The Russian Defense Ministry announced Thursday that its forces have captured the town of Ukrainsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, marking the latest in a series of territorial gains for Moscow’s advancing troops.
In a daily briefing posted on Telegram, the ministry stated that Russian troops had “liberated” Ukrainsk, a town that had a pre-war population of over 10,000 residents. Ukrainsk is situated approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the regional capital, Donetsk.
This capture represents one of the more significant conquests in recent weeks for Russian forces, which have been steadily claiming control over small villages and settlements as they push forward in the region.
The announcement follows similar claims made on Wednesday, when Moscow reported the “liberation” of the settlements of Hostre and Hryhorivka, also in the Donetsk region. Hostre is a small village about 30 kilometers west of Donetsk city, while Hryhorivka is located near the strategically important hilltop town of Chasiv Yar.
Russian forces are aiming to gain control of the entire Donetsk region, demanding that Kyiv withdraw its troops from the area. Moscow has also stated that Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions is a precondition for opening peace talks.
These recent advances come as part of Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, which began with the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The conflict has resulted in significant territorial changes and continues to impact the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe.
themoscowtimes
