Russian forces have taken control of the town of Kurakhove in the strategically important Donetsk region following a two-month siege, according to local reports.
Reports from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicated that Russian forces made gains in western Kurakhove on December 24, succeeding in an advance that first began in mid-October.
Newsweek contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for confirmation on the advances via email for this story.
Why It Matters
Donetsk is one of four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed when the invasion first escalated in 2022, making it one of the key battlegrounds for the war.
Putin said that the region was a major goal for the Russian forces in 2025, and the gains made in Kurakhove represent a step towards holding the area in the future. The Russian military dedicated considerable resources to the town's capture, bringing an estimated 35,000 troops to the area for a 2-month siege.
What To Know
Ukrainian authorities confirmed that Russian forces had made gains surrounding Kurakhove, with the Khortytsia Group of Forces reporting that Ukraine had lost control of several positions in the Donetsk region around the town.
The Russian military began the siege in October, bringing significant military force and infantry to the area to put more pressure on Ukrainian defenders. Data from the ISW indicates that Russia ramped up the number of armored assaults on the town, resulting in a heavy loss of vehicles during the attacks.
Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Russian forces are now focused on amassing troops in the region to reinforce the gains made in the area after the assault, with artillery bombings continuing to target Ukrainian infrastructure in Donetsk.
What People Are Saying
Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia Group of Forces, said on Ukrainian television: "Some 31 combat clashes occurred in the Kurakhove sector over the past 24 hours. In the urban part of Kurakhove and near Dalnie, Dachne, and Uspenivka, the enemy's assault groups are trying to continue to infiltrate our combat formations."
"They are moving in small groups, attempting to secure footholds in buildings or bypass city structures on the outskirts. The fact that they attack in small groups does not mean there are not many of them overall. The 8th and 29th Russian armies, the 90th Tank Division, the 20th Motor Rifle Division, and the 5th and 110th Separate Motor Rifle Divisions are all operating against us in this area."
What Happens Next
The taking of Kurakhove gives Russia a strong foothold in the region from which it can launch future operations. However, the ISW predicts that Russian forces may face difficulty in further advances, as Ukraine still maintains a strong presence in Kurakhivska, to the west of the town.
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