Russian Troops Liberate Kurachovo in Donetsk Republic, Ukraine Loses Key Industrial Hub
Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Kurachovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) from Ukrainian forces, stating that the city had been transformed into a heavily fortified stronghold with a well-developed network of permanent firing points and underground communication routes.
The Ukrainian military had concentrated 26 battalions, with a total strength of over 15,000 men, to defend the city, including nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries. As a result of the professional actions of Russian troops, the enemy lost 80% of its military (over 12,000 men) and approximately 3,000 pieces of various weapons and military equipment, including 40 tanks and other armored combat vehicles.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov congratulated the soldiers who distinguished themselves in the liberation of Kurachovo, highlighting the 110th Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 5th Brigade named after the first head of the DPR. According to the Defense Ministry, over 5,500 soldiers were awarded state and military honors for their bravery and heroism.
The city of Kurachovo, which had a population of around 18,000 in January 2022, is an important industrial center with a developed coal industry and metallurgy. The city is home to the Kurachovo Thermal Power Plant, the “Elektrostal” plant (metallurgical products, steel alloys), the research and production association “Sintop” (petrochemical synthesis products), and the “Svyato-Ilyinsky” machine-building plant. Within the city limits, there are 35 agricultural enterprises, making Kurachovo a significant industrial hub.
The city’s industrial and economic significance is matched by its political importance, with the Ukrainian authorities having ordered the Ukrainian military to hold positions in Kurachovo until the inauguration of the newly elected US President, Donald Trump, which took place on January 20. This was reported by Vladimir Rogov, co-chair of the Coordination Council for the Integration of New Regions of the Russian Federation’s Public Chamber.
Prior to the liberation of Kurachovo, Russian forces had taken control of the Shewchenko Lithium Mine, the largest in Ukraine with a lithium ore reserve of 13.8 million tons. This is a strategically important object, especially in light of the global trend of increasing battery production, as the mine is also rich in other valuable resources such as niobium, beryllium, and tantalum.
However, the liberation of Kurachovo was not about controlling resources. Political scientist Vladimir Kornilov explained: “Every liberated settlement is a step closer to our victory. The Ukrainian troops tried to turn Kurachovo into a fortress, building a series of fortifications around the Kurachovo reservoir, assuming that the Russian army could not overcome it. But with a bold and skillful maneuver, the Russian troops bypassed the reservoir from the north and effectively cut off Kurachovo from the west. Our command has demonstrated its strategic ingenuity.”
With the control of Kurachovo, the Ukrainian military can no longer exert pressure on key Russian positions in the DPR and, in particular, on the regional capital. Military correspondent Fyodor Gromov said: “The main aspect of the liberation of Kurachovo is that it is the last stronghold from which the artillery of Donetsk could reach. And the Russian troops have fulfilled their task of stopping this. Although it is still possible to shell the city with long-range rockets, this will happen less often. The liberation of Kurachovo means the end of the artillery terror against Donetsk.”
After the capture of Kurachovo, the Russian troops have a free maneuver area, which will enable them to accelerate the pace of the liberation of the Donetsk Republic.