Russia claims to make progress in eastern Ukraine, taking control of the town.

Russia declared on Sunday that its forces had taken complete control of a town in eastern Ukraine, as Moscow’s soldiers advanced on the strategically vital city of Pokrovsk and attempted to breach the Ukrainian defensive front lines. Russian soldiers, which have held around one-fifth of Ukraine since entering in February 2022, are moving in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to seize the entire Donbas region, which is almost half the size of the US state of Ohio.

Russia’s defence ministry announced that its forces had captured Novohrodivka, which is 12 kilometres (7 miles) from Pokrovsk, a key rail and road hub for Ukrainian forces in the region. The town had a population of 14,000 before to the conflict.

Yuri Podolyaka, an influential Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, provided maps depicting Russian soldiers attacking beyond Novohrodivka in at least two locations fewer than 7 kilometres (4 miles) from Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian military’s General Staff issued a report on Sunday evening detailing battle in the Pokrovsk sector, including Novohrodivka. It said 29 attempted Russian attacks had been repulsed, with seven battles still ongoing. “Our troops are taking measures to maintain designated positions,” according to the announcement. However, an interview with a Ukrainian officer published last week by US-funded Radio Liberty stated that Ukrainian soldiers had abandoned Novohrodivka because the positions there were unsuitable for defending it.

However, an interview with a Ukrainian officer published last week by US-funded Radio Liberty stated that Ukrainian soldiers had abandoned Novohrodivka because the positions there were unsuitable for defending it. DeepState, a popular Ukrainian war blog, reported that Russian soldiers had taken over the settlement of Nevelske in the south-east. Due to war-related reporting limitations, Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield reports from either side.

President Vladimir Putin said last week that a Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region of Kursk had failed to slow Russia’s own advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kyiv’s defences along the front line in a boost to Moscow.

Ukraine’s top military commander said on Thursday that Kyiv’s incursion into the Kursk region was working. Russian forces, he said, had made no progress in their advance on Pokrovsk for the previous six days.

He said that one of the objectives of the Kursk incursion was to divert Russian forces from other areas, primarily Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Russia had diverted large numbers to Kursk, but was also strengthening the Pokrovsk front, he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the Kursk operation was also to prevent Russian forces from crossing the border in the opposite direction.

Russia currently controls about 80% of Donbas. Given the speed of recent Russian advances in the east, some Russian war bloggers have raised concern about the army overreaching itself.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin stated that a Ukrainian incursion into the Russian territory of Kursk had failed to prevent Russia’s military advance in eastern Ukraine and had damaged Kyiv’s front-line defences, so benefiting Moscow. Ukraine’s top military commander declared on Thursday that Kyiv’s entry into the Kursk area was successful. Russian forces, he claimed, had made no headway in their approach on Pokrovsk over the preceding six days. He stated that one of the goals of the Kursk assault was to draw Russian soldiers away from other locations, specifically Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Russia has transferred substantial numbers to Kursk while

To keep Russian forces from crossing the border in the opposite direction. Russia presently controls over 80% of Donbas. Given the rapidity of recent Russian gains in the east, some Russian war bloggers have expressed concern that the army is overreaching itself. More than two and a half years ago, Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine for what he described as a special military operation. Ukraine and its Western allies have pledged to defeat Russian forces and evacuate all Russian troops.