Russian forces claim to have captured the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Kurakhove after a prolonged battle, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Monday. The ministry stated the heavily damaged town was now part of the Kremlin’s list of conquests in the nearly three-year-long conflict.
Ukrainian authorities have not responded to the claim, which follows reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry that Ukrainian forces had launched new attacks in the Kursk border region.
Kurakhove, a strategic location for the Ukrainian military in the Donetsk region, features industrial infrastructure, including a thermal power plant and a reservoir. The town also serves as a key transit point along a highway linking eastern and southern Ukraine.
In November, the Associated Press reported that between 7,000 and 10,000 residents remained in Kurakhove, which had a prewar population of about 20,000. The area has endured heavy bombardment from artillery, rocket launchers, and drones, leaving much of the town in ruins.
Russian forces have focused on advancing westward in a slow and costly campaign to gain control of Donetsk. Ukrainian troops, stretched thin along the front lines, continue to resist Russia’s numerically superior army.
Nearby Pokrovsk, a critical transportation hub providing supplies to Ukrainian forces, is also under pressure as Russian forces attempt to encircle it.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to expedite military aid, emphasizing its importance during his recent address. Zelenskyy expressed hope for additional support during an upcoming meeting with Western partners in Germany.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian forces launched a new offensive in the Kursk region. While Moscow stated it successfully repelled the attack, reports from Russian military bloggers hinted at considerable challenges faced by Russian troops.
The developments come amid heightened uncertainty, as the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump approaches. Analysts suggest both sides are attempting to secure territorial gains ahead of potential peace negotiations.
In 2022, Moscow declared the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, although Russian forces have yet to fully control any of the four.
The prolonged conflict continues to reshape the region, with no clear resolution in sight.
