Russian forces have, according to their own statements, captured the city of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine. It is reported that complete control has been taken over the largest settlement in the southwestern part of the Donbas, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Monday.
The city is allegedly cut off from the north by a reservoir, which significantly restricted the maneuverability of Russian attack troops. The Russians claim that Ukraine had stationed 15,000 soldiers in the city, of whom 12,000 fell, allegedly. After the capture of Kurakhovo, operations in the Donetsk region could be accelerated, it was said further.
The city of Kurakhove is located approximately 50 kilometers west of Donetsk. Since May 2022, it has been a battleground in the Ukraine war. Already at the beginning of December 2024, a large part of the city had been occupied by Russian troops.