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Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Monday that Russian troops in eastern Ukraine have captured the city of Kurakhove after a monthslong battle
Kurakhove is a key stronghold for the Ukrainian army on the eastern front line
It also sits on a highway running between eastern and southern Ukraine
Kurakhove's population has dwindled to an estimated 7,000—10,000 amid relentless artillery barrages and drone strikes that have devastated the area
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office in two weeks
Though Trump's strategy for ending the war remains unclear
both sides appear eager to secure territorial gains ahead of potential peace negotiations
Volodymyr Zelensky told the podcaster Lex Fridman in an interview that Trump could make a difference in ending the war, but warned that without U.S. help, Russian president Vladimir Putin "will destroy everything."
Russian forces are pressing toward Pokrovsk
a vital logistics center crucial for Ukraine's defense operations in the region
Moscow has intensified its campaign in Donetsk
Russia annexed Donetsk and three other Ukrainian regions—Luhansk
but its control over these territories remains partial and contested
Ukraine is grappling with troop shortages and is relying on Western military aid to bolster its defenses
In the Kursk region, Russia claims to have repelled a fresh Ukrainian offensive
However, conflicting reports from Russian military bloggers suggest Moscow faced considerable resistance
The latest advances in Kursk come nearly six months after Kyiv first sent troops into the region
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Sunday that the Ukrainian Armed Forces renewed their offensive in Kursk
launching a "counterattack" so that Kyiv could "halt the advance of Russian troops."
Ukraine's general staff said in a post on its social media pages on Monday morning that its forces were continuing an operation in the Kursk region
and had repelled 47 attacks over the past 24 hours
Ukrainian authorities have yet to respond to the claim
It is typical for Ukrainian officials to comment on major battlefield defeats only days after Russia announces them
Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Ukraine launched a fresh offensive in the Kursk region
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism Sunday about securing additional support at an upcoming meeting with international allies in Germany
to support her as the war enters its fourth year
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground
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The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce."
MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7
MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne
The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8
Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations
the regional military administration reported
"I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous
war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S
Putin's Victory Day truce "doesn't sound like much
if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5
Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion
head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote
and the candidate from the ruling coalition
"It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington
which have been launched and are now ongoing," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said
set to operate within the Council of Europe
will focus on Russia's political and military leaders
up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed
The move represents an apparent violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions passed in the wake of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests
"We are ready to deepen our contribution to the training of the Ukrainian military," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on May 5
by A stone-made sign ‘Kurakhove’ on Sept
(Yevhenii Vasyliev/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the western outskirts of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast and a local power plant
but the situation in the town is "difficult," a military spokesperson said on Jan
"The situation in Kurakhove is really quite difficult right now, because a significant part of the city has been destroyed," Khortytsia group of forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said on national television on Jan. 7, only a day after Russia claimed to have full control over the town
Kurakhove has become one of the focal points of the Russian offensive in Donetsk Oblast over the past few months
turning the town into one of the hottest sectors of the front
The town lies over 20 kilometers (over 10 miles) north of Russian-occupied Vuhledar and over 30 kilometers (almost 20 miles) south of the key front-line town of Pokrovsk
"Ukrainian troops are holding on the western part of the town
They are also holding onto a power plant located in the town," Trehubov added
Russian forces are attempting to raze Kurakhove building by building
destroying any potential defenses for Ukrainian soldiers
This method mirrors Russian tactics used in other front-line towns like Toretsk, where there are reportedly "no intact buildings left" after Moscow's onslaught
In its Jan. 7 report, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported fending off 26 Russian assaults in the Kurakhove sector
The DeepState monitoring group shows Kurakhove almost completely in Russian hands
If taken, Kurakhove would be the first significant town to fall into Russian hands in 2025 after Russia took Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year. Moscow's troops now focus their efforts at Pokrovsk
as part of their overall goal to capture the entire Donetsk Oblast
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent
He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press
He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner
Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno
holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies
Posted: 23 January 2025| Region: Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia | Category: Ukraine Update
Authors: Olha Polishchuk; Cristian Vlas
During December and the first days of January
ACLED records a nearly six-times increase in attempted or successful property destruction targeting Russian banks
as well as other public infrastructure such as relay cabinets and locomotives
Explore the ACLED Conflict Exposure tool to assess the numbers of people affected by armed violence
and Central Asia Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018
originally hired as the Ukraine Researcher
she manages a team of researchers covering countries across Eastern Europe
and Central Asia and oversees the dataset and analysis work for the region
Olha holds an LLM in Law of the Sea from the Arctic University of Norway
an LLM in Human Rights Law with International Law from the University of Kent
and a bachelor's degree from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
She has experience working in the private law sector
Cristian Vlas is the Assistant Research Manager at the Eastern Europe desk
His previous focus was political violence in Belarus
His work experience includes four years of reporting on Moldova and the Transnistrian conflict settlement for Moldova.org
monitoring of the use of small arms and light weapons in Moldova at SEESAC's Armed Violence Monitoring Platform
He also worked on reporting and advocacy with the Romanian National Council of Refugees (CNRR)
Cristian has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Corvinus University of Budapest
and earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and European Integration from the University of Pécs
Regions: Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia
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Russian troops in eastern Ukraine have captured the stronghold of Kurakhove after a monthslong battle, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on Monday, adding the wrecked town to the Kremlin’s list of conquests during the almost three-year war.
However, the Ukrainian force defending Kurakhove dismissed the claim while acknowledging that Russian forces were attacking urban areas.
“Measures to identify and destroy enemy assault groups that are trying to infiltrate our battle formations are underway,” the local military command said on Telegram.
Photo: The Ukrainian Armed Forces via Reuters
Russia’s claim came a day after its defense ministry said Ukrainian forces had pressed new attacks in Russia’s Kursk border region.
Ukrainian officials usually comment on major battlefield defeats only days after Russia announces them.
The inauguration in two weeks of US president-elect Donald Trump has brought a new element of uncertainty and triggered an apparent effort by both sides to establish battlefield gains before any possible peace talks.
Trump has not detailed his plans for accomplishing his goal of ending the fighting, but his presence in the White House is likely to significantly affect how the war plays out.
Kurakhove is a stronghold for the Ukrainian army on the eastern front line in the partially occupied Donetsk region. It has an industrial zone, a thermal power plant and a reservoir and sits on a highway between eastern and southern Ukraine.
In November last year, The Associated Press reported from the town that about 7,000 to 10,000 people likely remained there. Its prewar population was about twice that.
The town has been under relentless attacks from artillery, multiple rocket launchers, powerful guided bombs and drones that have shattered buildings.
Meanwhile, Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment said in an assessment published on social platform X that there has been some cheering news for Ukraine.
“Ukraine is grinding down Russian forces. Russian gains are small relative to costs. There has been no collapse of the front,” Kofman wrote.
On the other hand, he said that “Ukraine is losing territory. The coldest part of the winter is yet ahead. The current theory of success is unclear, or what resources will be made available by the West in 2025.”
Russia has been driving westward in a slow and costly effort to capture all of Donetsk. Ukraine is short of troops on the front lines and is straining to hold back the bigger Russian army.
Russian forces are trying to close in on Pokrovsk, a key road junction and rail distribution center furnishing supplies to a broad span of the Ukrainian front line.
In 2022, Moscow illegally annexed the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions, which make up the Donbas industrial area, together with southeastern provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. However, Russian forces do not fully control any of them.
Ukraine is keen to get new Western military aid delivered quickly, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday said he hoped more would be pledged this week at a meeting with Western partners in Germany.
Russia declared victory in the key hub a day earlier, saying it would help in capturing the rest of eastern Donetsk.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill says the West is seeking to smother Russia.
These live updates have been closed. Thank you for reading.
Below, you can review developments regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine on January 7, 2024:
01/07/2025January 7, 2025Ukraine says hit Kursk command post amid new incursionsThe Ukrainian military says its forces conducted a precision strike on a military command post of a marine brigade of the Russian armed forces near Belaya, in Russia's western Kursk region
The general staff on Telegram said that Ukrainian troops are engaged in a new incursions in Kursk
where Kyiv launched an offensive in August
"The strike and a series of recent operations..
were coordinated with the Ukrainian Ground Forces who are currently commencing new offensive operations," it said.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine will use all means at its disposal to aggressively pursue and eliminate the formations of the Russian Armed Forces that threaten the security and safety of Ukrainian civilians."
North Korean troops suffer 'mass casualties' in RussiaTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
01/07/2025January 7, 2025Scottish man killed while serving as a medic with Kyiv's forcesA Scottish man has died while serving on the front line with the Ukrainian army, his family said.
The 26-year-old Jordan Maclachlan from the Scottish Highlands died on Friday while serving as a medic, the family told UK broadcaster the BBC.
"Jordan always believed that he was making a difference and we are all so proud of him helping others," the statement said.
"We are waiting for further information from the Foreign Office as information is very limited.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson told the broadcaster: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities."
01/07/2025January 7, 2025Patriarch Kirill says West trying to smother RussiaPatriarch Kirill of Moscow, an enthusiastic backer of the invasion of Ukraine, has celebrated Christmas alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, saying that the Western world despised Russia and its "alternative path of civilized development."
Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Kirill reportedly blessed icons and crosses to be engraved with the president's initials and sent them to soldiers in the 34-month-old war.
Russia presents a challenge to powerful countries not because of its nuclear capabilities or strength, Kirill said, according to the news agencies.
"They hate us because we are offering a different, alternative path of civilized development," he said at Christ the Savior cathedral.
While the West was in moral collapse, he said, Russia showed the world how to blend science, culture, education and faith.
"Physically, they cannot really smother us, though they try through different types of slander and the creation of blocs of some sort intended to weaken Russia," he said. "Nothing will work because God is with us."
The cathedral was rebuilt on the site of a swimming pool in the 1990s after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin had it leveled in the 1930s.
2025Ukrainian forces say fighting ongoing in key town despite Russian victory declarationA Ukrainian unit says there is still active fighting in Kurakhove
a strategic town in eastern Ukraine that Russia said it had seized the previous day
Moscow celebrated the capture of the "important logistics hub," saying it would help Russian forces take over the rest of the eastern Donetsk region "at an accelerated pace."
the Ukrainian army on Tuesday reported "active" fighting in the "urban area of Kurakhove" and said it was fending off Russian attacks near the town
the defense forces are countering the enemy's attempts to use their superiority in manpower and develop an offensive," Ukraine's Khortytsia army unit said on social media
"The enemy actively conducted assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove," it said
"Measures to localize and destroy enemy assault groups that have infiltrated our combat formations are underway."
the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday said its central
western and eastern troop groupings had fended off Ukrainian counter-attacks in the last 24 hours and that they had improved their positions
Russia's army 'lost up to a battalion'To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
by Ukrainian soldiers prepare the BM-21 artillery in their fighting position
(Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan
6 that its forces had fully captured Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast
Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces reported on Jan. 6 that battles are ongoing in the Kurakhove sector as Russia "conducts assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove in the direction of Petropavlivka and Dachne."
The reports come amid heavy Russian offensive operations in Donetsk Oblast that took a long-unseen pace in the fall of 2024
"Measures are underway to identify and destroy Russian assault groups trying to infiltrate our battle formations," the Khortytsia group said
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims
Russian forces have focused their effort at Kurakhove in southwestern Donetsk Oblast over the past few months
turning it into one of the hottest sectors of the front
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Jan
Ukrainian forces repelled 27 ground assaults near Kurakhove
The Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState shows Kurakhove almost completely in Russian hands
with Moscow's forces apparently advancing west toward Dachne
If confirmed, this would make Kurakhove the first major town to fall into Russian hands in 2025 after capturing Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year. Moscow's troops now focus their efforts at Pokrovsk
2025 10:33 PM5 min readUkrainian servicemen from the 93rd Brigade drive a battle tank to position near Pokrovsk
(Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
by Russia keeps on advancing in eastern Donetsk Oblast
which would become the first major town to fall into Russian hands in 2025
Russian troops are continuing to push on the Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, Ukraine's General Staff said in its latest update
Pokrovsk and Kurakhove remain the focal points of the Russian eastern offensive
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 6 that due to Ukraine's ongoing Kursk incursion, where a potential small-scale Ukrainian offensive is taking place, Russia is unable "to direct all its strength" to other embattled areas, including Donetsk Oblast
reports indicate that Russian troops are advancing inch by inch in an effort to capture the entire region
with little to no signs that Moscow is to slow down in the immediate future
The active phase of the battle for Kurakhove, once home to more than 18,000 people, has been ongoing since October, and the steady Russian advance in the area suggests its imminent loss
The fall of Vuhledar on Oct. 2 and the subsequent loss of Selydove on Oct. 29 meant that Kurakhove
would turn into Russia's next main target
Russian troops entered the town in late November
and the Russian Defense Ministry claimed the full capture of Kurakhove on Jan
weeks-long urban fighting in Kurakhove is still ongoing
"There is no question of full Russian control over the town," he said
"When the town is completely destroyed
there is simply no place to hold the defense because there are actually no fortifications," the spokesperson said
adding that the situation is very difficult
Ukrainian troops still maintain a presence just outside the town
Ukraine rarely admits withdrawal or loss of a settlement
There's no evidence that Ukraine has the means to retake the town in the near future
"The town has not been strategically very important
for continuing the attack in this direction
capturing Kurakhove was necessary for Russia," Emil Kastehelmi
an analyst at the Finland-based Black Bird Group
The Kurakhove bulge has stretched Ukrainian defenses
and gradually retreating towards the village of Ulaky
would shorten the front line "significantly," according to Kastehelmi
The highway connecting Zaporizhzhia and occupied Donetsk passes through the two settlements and serves as a major logistics chain for Ukrainian troops in and around Kurakhove
the Ukrainians can decide to give up some ground in exchange for a tighter defense
which could be useful in this case," he said
"Holding onto the fields around Kurakhove for the sake of holding some ground isn't always the best idea."
Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to approach Pokrovsk further northwest
gaining ground in the neighboring settlements
According to the DeepState crowdsourced map
This would put Russian troops within a few kilometers of the city's outskirts from three sides
Ukraine still controls the main road leading to the city
The Ukrainian military has not confirmed the loss of these settlements
They cannot be independently verified at this time
Recruits of the 37th Marine Brigade attend a shooting range during an additional training course in Donetsk Oblast
(Ivan Antypenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Local workers replace broken windows with chipboard after massive shelling from Multiple Launch Rocket Systems in Pokrovsk
(Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)According to Trehubov
the last major settlement in the southwestern part of Donetsk Oblast
Ongoing Russian troop movements are also reported in Toretsk
which experienced a lull in active Russian advancement for a few months
In late December, the Ukrainian military said that Russia started using additional military equipment near the town
but now the enemy has become more active," said Anastasia Bobovnikova
a spokesperson of the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk
Moscow's troops were conducting assaults all over Toretsk as of Jan
Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent
She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years
covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics
Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv
She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany
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#article-stream-0 .subhead3-embed .font-accent{font-family: Euclid,"Noto Sans","Droid Sans","Helvetica Neue",Corbel,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;}Russian vehicles come under attack outside Kurakhove
the Ukrainian 46th Air Mobile Brigade has been bracing for a powerful Russian attack on its positions in Kurakhove
in the southern part of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast
that attack finally came—in the form of at least 14 Russian armored vehicles
The attack was one of the opening salvoes of a long-anticipated effort by the Russians to roll up Ukrainian defenses around the fortress city of Pokrovsk and nearby Myrnohrad
the whole Ukrainian line in Donetsk Oblast could collapse
So what happened next outside Kurakhove is good news for Ukraine—but potentially fleeting. The 46th Air Mobile Brigade smashed that initial Russian assault
The column of Russian vehicles rolled toward Kurakhove along one of the main east-west roads threading from Russian-occupied Donetsk city
explosive first-person-view drones and anti-tank missiles
The Russian column ground to a fiery halt. Ukrainian drones dropped grenades on Russian troops fleeing the wreckage. “We follow, we see, we burn,” crowed Gen
commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces
“The skill of the Ukrainian soldiers leaves no chance for the Russian invaders.”
The Russians consistently suffer horrific casualties while assaulting Ukrainian defenses—and yet keep coming
Despite losing more than a thousand troops who are killed or wounded every day
the Russian military is still recruiting enough fresh troops to make good its losses
It helps that North Korea has sent thousands of its own soldiers to help
The best outcome for the Ukrainians is that Kurakhove holds
slowing the Russians and preserving the defensive zone that protects Pokrovsk from encirclement
The worst outcome is that Kurakhove falls—and the Russians move to besiege Pokrovsk in the weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated in the United States
cementing Moscow’s control over any Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces
the Russians’ focus on the axis between Kurakhove and Pokrovsk means they’re “losing momentum and decreasing activity on all other fronts.”
is that the Kremlin has decided that the Kurakhove-Pokrovsk axis is the strategic axis in Ukraine
1. Ukraine Control Map
2. 46th Air Mobile Brigade
3. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi
4. Stanislav Aseyev
5. The Wall Street Journal
6. CNN
Kyiv's army said on Tuesday it was clinging on to part of Kurakhove
a strategic town in Ukraine's east that Russia said it had seized the previous day
Moscow hailed the capture of the "important logistics hub," saying it would enable Russian forces to seize the rest of the eastern Donetsk region "at an accelerated pace."
But the Ukrainian army said Tuesday fighting was still ongoing on the fringes of the town and accused Russia of using scorched-earth tactics to "completely destroy" it
"Ukrainian troops are holding on in the western part of the town
on the western outskirts of the town," Victor Tregubov
a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia army unit
A "large part of the town has been destroyed"
adding that Russians were grinding through the area
"They are actually trying to dismantle the town brick by brick," Tregubov said
He claimed Ukraine was "inflicting losses on them so that they do not advance further."
Kurakhove had a pre-conflict population of around 18,000 people
is located near a reservoir and has a major lithium deposit
Tregubov said Ukraine still controlled the power plant
Russia's troops have been advancing in the eastern Donetsk region — which Moscow claimed to have annexed in 2022 — for months
Both sides are trying to secure fresh territory ahead of U.S
President-elect Donald Trump returning to office later this month
The Republican has vowed to bring swift peace to the nearly three-year war but has not outlined a concrete plan
Russia said Ukraine launched a fresh "counter-attack" in its Kursk border region over the weekend
five months after Kyiv's army first seized dozens of settlements in a shock cross-border offensive
both sides reported civilian deaths in the southern Kherson region — part of which is occupied by Russian forces
A 62-year-old man was killed when a Russian drone dropped explosives on his car
the Ukrainian governor of the region Oleksandr Prokudin said on social media
And Russian state media quoted a Moscow-installed official as saying Ukrainian shelling killed one person in the village of Oleshki
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criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution
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Russian forces made further advances in the western part of the Donetsk Oblast
extending their flanking of the Ukrainian grouping in the Kurakhove area
The villages bordering it from the north-east came at least partially under their control
The Russian aggressor units attacking from the south advanced a further 3–6 km into the Ukrainian grouping
They also renewed their assault in the western direction
penetrating the defenders’ positions up to 5 km deep on a 10 km wide front
The Russians also resumed their assault west of Selydove
towards the main road now linking Pokrovsk and Kurakhove
they penetrated about 5 km and entered the village of Novooleksiivka
Ukrainians have stepped up efforts to defend Pokrovsk
The local military administration has announced that entry and exit to the city will be blocked
It has also repeated its appeal to residents to evacuate (11,900 remain as of 30 October)
The Russians are less than 7 km from the city
Apart from constant shelling and airstrikes
there are no other signs of preparations for its capture
and the field advances achieved were insignificant
there has been a bilateral realignment of the front line
the Ukrainians have regained some of the positions they previously held
Russia is now concentrating on liquidating the enemy’s grouping in the western part of the Donetsk Oblast
and treating the other directions as auxiliary
Activation on them occurs when the local Ukrainian grouping is weakened – most often as a consequence of the withdrawal and redeployment of part of their forces to the Pokrovsk area or the Kursk Oblast
the situation north of Kharkiv indicates that
the Ukrainians are not giving up on regaining at least some of the lost territories which are not currently considered to be important
North Korean soldiers are fighting on the side of Russia in the Kursk Oblast
and some media outlets report that around 40 have been killed in clashes with Ukrainians
The Pentagon claims that Russia has deployed 12,000 North Korean military personnel to the Kursk Oblast
reports that 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in the Russian Federation
“a significant number of whom have moved to the frontline areas
but that they are not taking part in the fighting
Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported that in the last week of October
the enemy deployed more than 7,000 North Korean army soldiers near Ukraine’s borders
They are equipped with arms provided by the Russian army (AK-12 assault rifles
SWD/SWCz sniper rifles and RPG-7 grenade launchers)
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces could have made a pre-emptive strike against camps used by North Korean troops
but that they do not have long-range weaponry
Russian missiles struck the railway bridge over the Dniester Liman in the village of Zatoka
There is no information in the Ukrainian media about the impact of the attack; Ukraine has only announced the shooting down of two of the ten missiles used by Russia
The bridge carries the main supply route from Romania and is also the primary route for transporting goods to Ukrainian Danube ports
The structure was previously attacked in April 2022 and February 2023
causing it to be periodically taken out of service
Russian attacks on the rear of enemy forces were concentrated mainly in the Kharkiv and Dnipro municipalities
Kharkiv was hit mainly by guided aerial bombs (30 and 31 October and 3 and 5 November)
and in the only confirmed rocket attack (1 November) the headquarters of the local Interior Ministry was hit
the Russians attacked the Dnipro River and its surroundings (including railway infrastructure)
Their targets also included infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia (5 November)
Odesa and its surroundings (29 and 31 October) and the Khmelnytskyi (2 November)
Cherkasy (31 October and 2 November) and Sumy (29 October and 3 November) oblasts
with the number of reports of energy facilities being hit decreasing (attacks on businesses were most often reported)
The significant increase in the number of drones used by the Russia observed since mid-October (see Appendix) continues to be felt by Kyiv
Damage in the capital (officially due to falling shrapnel) was reported on 2 and 3 November
between the evening of 29 October and the morning of 5 November
Russia used 39 missiles (Ukraine declared six destroyed) and 479 Shahed/Geran drones (284 drones are thought to have been destroyed and 167 were considered locally lost
which Kyiv said could be due to the impact of electronic warfare systems)
Ukrainian drones attacked a fuel base in Stavropol Krai and a fuel and energy complex (TEK) in Bashkortostan
A brief fire occurred on the site of the former
the target of the strike was the TEK enterprise in Ufa
Russian intelligence continues to recruit young Ukrainian citizens and commission them for sabotage activities
three outposts of the postal operator Ukrposhta were set on fire in Kyiv
The perpetrator was apprehended – he was a high school student who
sent his ‘handler’ photographic documentation as a basis for payment of a fee
The 16-year-old faces up to seven years in prison for his crime
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the Ukrainian side of sabotaging the exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war
while creating “the appearance of an international effort to free them”
Moscow offered to hand over 935 Ukrainian prisoners of war
She also suggested that the Ukrainian government was preventing the return of those who
there are reports in the Russian media that many Ukrainian prisoners of war are refusing to return
praising their conditions of stay in the Russian Federation
Zakharova’s statement is an example of disinformation aimed at the Ukrainian public
Pointing to Kyiv’s alleged procrastination is intended to lower confidence in those in power
who are reportedly dividing POWs into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ones
human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stressed that Ukraine is always ready to exchange prisoners of war in accordance with international law
The first of the Canadian-funded NASAMS air defence systems is on its way to Ukraine
This was announced by President Zelensky after a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 4 November
Ottawa declared its intention to purchase NASAMS systems for Kyiv at a total cost of $300 million in January 2023
the US Department of Defense released details of the 69th military aid package
As part of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA)
the following will be transferred from the stockpiles of the local army
Stryker wheeled armoured personnel carriers (at least 211)
Stinger man-portable surface-to-air guided missiles
air-to-ground guided missiles (type not disclosed)
155 mm and 105 mm calibre artillery shells
and drone combat equipment and ammunition (c-UAS)
Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced the allocation of more than €108 million for the purchase of equipment and armaments for F-16 fighter jets being delivered to Ukraine
with the first previously Norwegian-owned aircraft of this type expected to arrive there before the end of the year
The Norwegian government’s website reports that €118 million have been earmarked to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and support the transfer of the Patriot system from Romania to Kyiv
These reports detail the new €350 million military support package announced by Oslo on 28 October (Norway intends to spend a total of €500 million on civilian and military purposes)
According to the Ukrainian defence ministry
more NASAMS air defence systems are to be funded from it
Problems with the implementation of mobilisation plans have caused courts to waive the prosecution of men who have arbitrarily walked away from a military unit for the first time
Zakarpattia and Ternopil oblasts issued around 100 decisions not to punish undisciplined soldiers
provided they voluntarily returned to their home units
Leaving a military unit or place of duty without a legitimate reason in a combat situation is punishable by up to ten years’ imprisonment
the recruitment centre at the General Consulate of Ukraine in Lublin
which deals with recruitment for the Ukrainian Legion
announced that since the beginning of October
more than 500 applications for military service had been received (90% from men
mostly from people residing in Poland and the Czech Republic
Half of the applications were submitted by people under the age of 25
Young people declare their willingness to join assault troops or to be drone operators
while older people declare their willingness to join logistics units
Monthly number of Shahed drone attacks in Ukraine
Source: own compilation based on information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and regional military administrations
Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej
by Kurakhove power station is seen on the bank of the Kurakhove Reservoir in Donetsk Oblast
(Oleksii Samsonov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Russian forces damaged the dam holding the Kurakhove Reservoir in Donetsk Oblast on Nov
Filashkin's statement came after multiple reports of the dam being attacked near the village of Stari Terny, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the embattled town of Kurakhove
The Kurakhove Reservoir is located on the Vovcha River
with its source near the village of Progress
"This attack potentially threatens residents of settlements on the Vovcha River, both in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts," Filashkin said
It's not the first time a critical dam was hit during the full-scale war
Russia destroyed the occupied Kakhovka dam in Ukraine's Kherson Oblast in June 2023, unleashing massive floods and an environmental and humanitarian disaster across southern Ukraine
Russian forces also damaged the dams and the adjacent hydroelectric power plants in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia during mass aerial attacks against energy infrastructure
The estimated advance of Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast as of Nov
(DeepState/OpenStreetMaps)According to the governor
the water level in the river within near Velyka Novosilka rose by 1.2 meters as of 4 p.m
Russian pro-war Telegram channels blame Ukraine for destroying the dam
The Ukrainian military has not commented on these claims
Roman Padun, head of the Kurakhove city military administration, told Suspilne that authorities cannot check the scale of damage to the dam and inspect it due to constant attacks
Russia is carrying out intense attacks in multiple sections of the eastern front, with attempts to break through Ukraine's defenses in Donetsk Oblast toward the towns of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk
There is a threat of Kurakhove being encircled
an acting spokesperson for Ukraine's 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade
told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Nov
spokesman for the Khortytsia military unit
“The fighting continues in the urban areas of Toretsk, Kurakhove and Chasiv Yar. The occupants have abandoned the tactic of storming the settlements head-on
They are trying to block transport arteries and cut off logistics from our defenders,” said Voloshyn
the occupants are also deliberately destroying urban development with the help of “suicide bombers”
“It has already been confirmed that in the Kurakhove sector and in the town of Kurakhove they have invented and are using the following tactics: they find “suicide bombers” who take anti-tank mines with them and
trying to break through the fire of our defenders
they destroy urban buildings and cause destruction,” Voloshyn noted
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 30 attacks in the Kurakhove sector yesterday
Fighting continues in Kurakhove in the urban area
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Russia said Monday that its forces had captured the "important logistics hub" of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area
Moscow has been pressing hard in eastern Ukraine
and the claimed capture of the industrial town is a major boost for its forces just two weeks before U.S
Both sides are looking to secure a better position on the battlefield before Trump's Jan
Moscow said Kyiv had launched its own counteroffensive on Russian territory over the weekend
Russian units "have fully liberated the town of Kurakhove — the biggest settlement in southwestern Donbas," the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram
It called the town "an important logistics hub" and said its capture would allow Russian forces to seize the rest of the Donetsk region "at an accelerated pace."
The claim came after Russia said Kyiv had launched a new "counterattack" in its Kursk border region
five months after Ukraine's forces initially seized swathes of the area in a shock cross-border incursion
"In the Kursk region we are confidently inflicting losses," the commander of Ukraine's land forces
He declined to comment on the eastern town of Kurakhove
saying this was "not my area of expertise."
which had a pre-conflict population of around 22,000 people
is located next to a reservoir and is home to a power station
In a visit close to the town last November
and empty supermarket shelves as residents fled in the face of Russia's grinding advance and daily bomb attacks
The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukrainian forces had turned Kurakhove into "a powerful fortified area with a developed network of long-standing firing positions and underground communications."
It said Ukraine's supply operations in the wider area would now be "significantly hampered."
Ukrainian forces did not confirm the claim
saying only that Russia was "conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove."
Ukraine's General Staff said on Facebook that its forces "repelled 27 attacks in the Kurakhove sector."
Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed Monday to have captured the village of Dachenske
another major city in the Donetsk region that its troops are targeting
The capture of Kurakhove comes at a critical juncture in the conflict
Trump has promised to bring a swift end to nearly three years of fighting
without proposing any concrete proposals for a ceasefire or peace deal
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech Monday that Ukraine needed to have "realistic discussions on territorial issues," for the first time clearly urging Kyiv to consider territorial concessions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Trump would be crucial to any end of the conflict
"Trump and I will come to an agreement and..
and then we can talk to the Russians," Zelensky said
according to the published translation of the interview held in Kyiv over the New Year
Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine was "maintaining a buffer zone" in the Kursk region
where Russia has sent "strong units" including North Koreans
meaning Moscow cannot deploy them to other regions such as Donetsk
Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops "continue to defeat Ukrainian army units on the territory of the Kursk region" and had prevented an attempted "breakthrough" near the village of Berdin
The extent of the operation or whether Ukraine had secured territorial gains were not clear
Kyiv seized dozens of villages in the Kursk region shortly after its incursion started on Aug
but its advances stalled after Moscow rushed reinforcements to the area
including thousands of troops from its ally North Korea
spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia Group of Forces
"Some 31 combat clashes occurred in the Kurakhove sector over the past 24 hours
In the urban part of Kurakhove and near Dalnie
the enemy's assault groups are trying to continue to infiltrate our combat formations," Trehubov said
He highlighted the tactics being employed by Russian forces
noting that their assaults are primarily conducted under the cover of night or in low-visibility conditions
Russian soldiers are increasingly using thermal "invisibility cloaks" to evade detection during nighttime operations
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
and the 5th and 110th Separate Motor Rifle Divisions are all operating against us in this area," Trehubov added
He noted that Russian forces are amassing troops in the region to enhance their tactical position through coordinated assault operations
Russian artillery continues to target Ukrainian positions in Kurakhove
though much of its firepower is reportedly destroying empty buildings rather than causing significant damage to Ukrainian forces
John Feng is Newsweek's contributing editor for Asia based in Taichung
He has covered foreign policy and defense matters
especially in relation to U.S.-China ties and cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan
John joined Newsweek in 2020 after reporting in Central Europe and the United Kingdom
He is a graduate of National Chengchi University in Taipei and SOAS
You can get in touch with John by emailing j.feng@newsweek.com
Russian forces have taken control of the town of Kurakhove in the strategically important Donetsk region following a two-month siege
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
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
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
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
the enemy's assault groups are trying to continue to infiltrate our combat formations."
and the 5th and 110th Separate Motor Rifle Divisions are all operating against us in this area."
The taking of Kurakhove gives Russia a strong foothold in the region from which it can launch future operations
the ISW predicts that Russian forces may face difficulty in further advances
as Ukraine still maintains a strong presence in Kurakhivska
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
The Ukrainian Navy published a video of the engagement on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
"We are burning an enemy convoy of armored vehicles in the Kurakhove sector! Black Sea marines repelled the enemy assault, during which the infantry was accompanied by a convoy of armored vehicles, including a tank and an infantry fighting vehicle. The unsuccessful assault for the occupiers resulted in destroyed equipment and a 'minus' infantry detachment," the Ukrainian Navy said.
Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421.
© 2015-2025 Ukrinform. All rights reserved.
Ukraine, however, did not confirm the Russian statement, while acknowledging that Russian troops are attacking urban areas.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said there "will be no quick and easy solution in Ukraine." Macron said the Ukrainians must be "realistic" when it comes to territorial issues.
These live updates have been closed. Thank you for reading.
Below, you can review developments regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine on January 6, 2024:
01/06/2025January 6, 2025Ukraine says 'inflicting losses' in KurskKyiv has said its army was "inflicting losses" in Russia's western Kursk region, where it had launched another surprise attack the day before.
"In the Kursk region we are confidently inflicting losses," Ukraine's land forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty said in comments to media in the eastern Donetsk region.
Moscow had acknowledged the incursion on Sunday, describing it as a "counterattack."
This is Ukraine's second offensive in the Kursk region, following a previous one last August, which started strong but has recently seen Moscow reclaim almost half of the occupied territory, with the help of soldiers from North Korea.
01/06/2025January 6, 2025Kherson drone attack leaves 1 dead, 9 others injuredAt least one person was killed and nine more were injured as a Russian drone attacked a civilian passenger bus in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson
the city's regional governor said on Instagram
A video from the scene shared by the Kherson governor shows the bus with shattered windows and pools of blood on its floor
The city has seen repeated bombings since Russia's invasion of Ukraine
with authorities reporting casualties from such strikes on an almost daily basis.
Russia says it does not deliberately target civilians but thousands have been killed and injured since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
01/06/2025January 6, 2025Macron: Ukraine should be 'realistic' on territorial concernsFrench President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine must be "realistic" on territorial concerns in any future negotiations to end the war with Russia.
"The Ukrainians must have realistic talks on territorial issues," Macron said in a meeting with French ambassadors
adding that the solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will not be "quick and easy."
Kyiv has long taken the public stance that it intends to regain all territory seized by Russia over the years, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
01/06/2025January 6, 2025Conflicting reports on Russian capture of KurakhoveRussian troops in eastern Ukraine have captured the stronghold of Kurakhove
The Ukrainian force defending the town dismissed the claim while acknowledging that Russian forces were attacking urban areas.
Russia’s claim came a day after its Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had pressed new attacks in Russia’s Kursk border region
Ukraine’s authorities usually comment on major battlefield defeats only days after Russia announces them
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Russia claims its forces have captured Kurakhove in Ukraine's Donetsk — a town that has become one of the primary focus points of Moscow forces in the past few months as they have intensified their attacks in the region
Kurakhove has been turned into rubble as Russian troops have made advances to surround and occupy what’s left of it
which tracks the front line using open sources
showed most of Kurakhove under Russian control
The US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported overnight on Monday that Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Kurakhove itself
Kurakhove would be the first major settlement to fall into Russian hands after the Russians captured Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year
Moscow forces have focused their efforts at Kurakhove over the past few months
making it one of the hottest and the most devastated sectors of the front
The town lies some 20 kilometres north of Russian-occupied Vuhledar and over 30 kilometres south of the key front-line town of Pokrovsk
which is undoubtedly the main focus of the Kremlin's efforts in eastern Ukraine
As a massively important logistics hub for Kyiv forces in this area
Pokrovsk has been crucial to Moscow’s overall goal since 2014
which is to capture the entire Donetsk region
around 300,000 civilians remained in the Donetsk region
out of which 54,000 lived directly in an active warzone
according to the Donetsk Military Administration
A destroyed railroad bridge across the Kurakhove Reservoir in the town of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast
(Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Key developments on Nov
Russian forces damaged the dam holding the Kurakhove Reservoir in Donetsk Oblast on Nov
A high-rise residential building in Kryvyi Rih was hit by a Russian missile on Nov
injuring at least 14 people including two children
The missile hit the building between the first and fifth floor
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhiy Lysak reported
adding there may still be a woman and three children under the rubble
and an 11-year-old boy are among the injured
"Russia seeks only to continue the war, and each of its strikes refutes any statements from Russia about diplomacy," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media
"Ukraine needs weapons to defend against Russian terror and stronger support from the world to make diplomacy real and strong."
The aftermath of a Russian attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Nov. 11, 2024. (State Emergency Service)Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast expected 'any day,' military saysRussian assaults in Zaporizhzhia Oblast could begin "any day," Vladyslav Voloshyn
Ukrainian military's Southern Command spokesperson
In early October, Russian troops have reportedly renewed their attack in the Zaporizhzhia sector. Kyiv warned of a potential Russian push in the southern region, just as Moscow's troops continue advancing in Ukraine's east
According to Voloshyn, Russia is also deploying trained assault groups to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
"(The assaults) could begin in the near future, we're not even talking about weeks, we're expecting it to happen any day," the spokesperson said
Ukraine's military intelligence said that Russia was planning to use armored vehicles and a significant number of drones
although it is not yet clear whether this will be a single offensive push or separate attacks
"They are preparing both armored groups and light vehicles — buggies
motorcycles — to conduct these assault operations," he added
Russian troops have intensified attacks against Zaporizhzhia, targeting its civilian infrastructure with guided aerial bombs
A Mi-24 type attack helicopter was set ablaze and destroyed at an airbase in Russia's Moscow Oblast
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) claimed on Nov
In a post on Telegram, HUR said the aircraft was attacked at a Russian airbase overnight on Nov
and attached a video allegedly showing it on fire
It did not say how the helicopter was set ablaze
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the video
Russian losses in Ukraine reached a record daily high of 1,770
according to figures released by Kyiv on Nov
The total surpasses the previous record of 1,740 on May 13
According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russia's total casualties now stand at 710,660
The figures do not specify killed or wounded, though the overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing, and captured. They are broadly in line with estimates from Western nations
While the Kremlin does not announce the number of dead and injured, Western officials have claimed October was the heaviest month yet for Russian forces
The number of Russian troops injured and killed last month averaged 1,500 "every single day," U.K
Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin told the BBC on Nov
This is higher than the previous figure presented by the U.K
8 that Russia suffered 41,980 killed and wounded during October- a daily average of 1,354
According to some experts, the surge in losses in recent months may be one of the factors behind the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia
Russia is sacrificing high numbers of troops for “tiny increments of land,” Radakin told the BBC. However, he added that Russia is making “tactical, territorial gains,” and “putting pressure on Ukraine" amid a heavy offensive
While Russian forces are suffering record losses
they're also making increasingly swift gains in the east of Ukraine
According to a Bloomberg analysis published on Nov. 1, Ukraine has lost 1,146 square kilometers of its own territory since the launch of the Kursk Oblast incursion in early August
1 reported as the worst in terms of lost territory in all of 2024
On Nov. 2, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukraine was facing “one of the most powerful” Russian offensives since the start of the all out war
Over autumn, large chunks of Ukrainian territory, sometimes including entire cities, have been lost on a near-daily basis in southern Donetsk Oblast, while Russian forces have also made operationally significant gains near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar
as well as on their own soil in Kursk Oblast
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent
We are here to make sure our readers get quick
essential updates about the events in Ukraine
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As reported by Ukrinform citing Suspilne Donbas
Trehubov addressed the situation during a live broadcast on Suspilne Studio
the analytical project Deep State claimed via Telegram that Russian forces had captured Kurakhove
the morning report from the Ukrainian General Staff made no mention of the Kurakhove defense sector
Trehubov confirmed that the Ukrainian forces are actively engaged in battles near Kurakhove
The Ukrainian forces are holding positions at the TPP located within the town
it’s inaccurate to say that the Russian troops have fully captured the city
a significant portion of Kurakhove has been reduced to rubble,” Trehubov stated
Trehubov stated that the Russian forces were attempting to attack Dachne and dislodge the Ukrainian troops from Kurakhove
the Ukrainian forces are holding the Kurakhove TPP
inflicting significant losses on Russian equipment and manpower
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Ukraine's military reported on Tuesday that it is still holding on to part of the key town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine, despite Russian claims of having taken control the previous day. Moscow celebrated the capture, calling it an important logistical hub that would enable Russian forces to accelerate their advance in the eastern Donetsk region.
However, Ukrainian forces indicated that fighting continues in the western outskirts of the town. According to Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia army unit, which is actively engaged in the area, the Ukrainian army is holding positions, and Russian forces are employing scorched-earth tactics to devastate the town. He described the situation as Russian forces systematically dismantling the town, building by building.
Tregubov emphasized that the Ukrainian military is inflicting significant losses on the Russian troops to prevent further advances. The spokesperson noted that much of the town had already been destroyed, but that Ukrainian forces were still managing to control certain key locations, including the power plant. Kurakhove, which had a population of around 18,000 before the conflict, is home to a power station, is located near a reservoir, and contains a significant lithium deposit.
In other parts of the frontlines, the conflict continues to affect civilians. In the southern Kherson region, which remains partially occupied by Russian forces, a 62-year-old man was killed when a Russian drone dropped explosives on his vehicle. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the civilian death, while Russian state media reported the death of a civilian in the village of Oleshki, which is under Russian control, as a result of Ukrainian shelling.
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According to Bulgaria's Military Intelligence Service report for 2023, Russia remains the dominant destabilizing force in global security
The European Commission has strongly condemned the circumstances surrounding the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna
According to The Times, European countries are struggling to mobilize even 25,000 troops to Ukraine for a potential peacekeeping mission
South Korea's intelligence agency has reported that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers
U.S. President Donald Trump has made mixed statements regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions in the ongoing war in Ukraine
The European Union is considering the possibility of separating Ukraine and Moldova in their EU accession processes due to Hungary's opposition to Ukraine's membership talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a short-term "ceasefire" from 8 to 10 May
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a so-called "humanitarian" truce to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II
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Ukraine’s Kurakhove is surrounded on three sides
with Russian forces just under two miles from the devastated city centre
Yet between 700 and 1,000 local residents remain
most of them living in the basements of apartment buildings
The only place to charge phones is in the basement of the building now housing the city administration
The exact number of people is impossible to determine because
no humanitarian volunteers have come to Kurakhove
Under attack from artillery, multiple rocket launchers, aerial bombs and drones, Kurakhove has become the new Bakhmut, as Russia continues its drive westward to capture all of the Donbas region
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the situation in Kurakhove
technical school and cultural center have all been destroyed
Smoke hangs in the air as bombed-out apartment buildings burn against a backdrop of artillery fire and drones
Artillerymen of the 33rd Brigade say they are firing around 50 shells per day on the Kurakhove front
indicating critical activity in the Russian army’s offensive operations and the brigade's desperate attempts to stop Russian forces from encircling the city
as well as representatives of the police and local Territorial Defense Forces
there is little hope of defending the city if it becomes surrounded
considering the reality of modern war and modern technologies
the logistics could be performed only by drones,” he says
the “road of death,” due to persistent Russian drone attacks
Five civilians have been killed while trying to leave
No supplies would enter the city without the “White Angels” evacuation group
made up of local police officers and volunteers
They provide first aid to the wounded and remove the bodies of those killed in shelling
all while operating the city's only functioning food store
The White Angels bring in vital supplies in an armored vehicle kitted out with electronic warfare equipment — the only way to enter the city
“Without REB (jammers) it is just a lottery
you might still have a chance to survive,” Shchus says
The only way to escape the city is to travel with the White Angels
they risk their lives to evacuate between six and 12 people from different parts of the city and surrounding villages
Although children are meant to have been evacuated
both from the bombs and from law enforcement officers
Among the White Angels' key missions is to find children and persuade their parents to evacuate
When this mission is successful and children are removed from the basements
many are shocked by the state of the destroyed city
suggesting that they have been hiding underground for quite some time
After dressing the children in bulletproof vests and helmets, the White Angels take them to the nearby city of Kostyantynopil, from where other volunteers transport them to refugee registration points in the regional centers of Dnipro or Zaporizhzhia.
“We evacuate people every day without stopping. We just dropped people off in Kostyantynopil, and we still have addresses to go through today,” Shchus explains.
Asked about adapting to work in such challenging and dangerous conditions, the police chief worries about the impact on his team.
“I think everyone has already adapted. I wouldn’t even call it ‘adaptation.’ It's more like an unhealthy state of mind. I don’t know how this will influence them socially in the future,” he says. “These people are living in inhumane conditions, and they're surviving on adrenaline. The war is their life. These are hard conditions to work in, but everyone is working.”
A central streets covered in debris from destroyed residential buildings after Russian bombing in Kurakhove, Donetsk
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Russia on Monday claimed that it captured two settlements in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region
An initial statement by the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Kurakhove was defended by over 15,000 Ukrainian troops
with the city's capture having "significantly complicated the logistical and technical support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces group in the Donetsk direction."
The statement further claimed that its capture of the city has deprived Ukraine of the possibility to conduct artillery strikes on the city of Donetsk
It added that the city's capture will allow Russian forces to increase the pace of its offensive in the Donetsk region
A later statement claimed that Russian forces also took control of the village of Dachenske
located just over 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of the city of Pokrovsk
another key front in Moscow's offensive in the Donetsk region
Russia has frequently claimed territorial gains in recent months
where fighting has intensified around Pokrovsk and Kurakhove
Ukraine's General Staff claimed earlier in the day that its forces prevented 27 Russian attacks in the Kurakhove front
including some near the city of Kurakhove itself
Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia's recent claims
and independent verification of the claims remain challenging amid the ongoing conflict
Russian forces are pushing to break through Ukraine’s defences in the Donetsk region towards the towns of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk
According to the available geolocated footage and reports by Ukrainian forces on the ground
Moscow troops recently advanced with two mechanised assault units south of Kurakhove
They have specifically advanced in northern and northeastern Dalne and the fields east and southeast of the town
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War think tank (ISW) said that Russian advances near Dalne are likely aimed at bypassing the string of settlements north of Vuhledar along the highway
which could have posed a notable challenge
The think tank assesses that further Russian advances into Dalne and west of the settlement could force Ukrainian forces to withdraw from positions in the pocket north and northeast of Vuhledar
This would allow Russian forces to advance along the highway relatively uncontested and further pressure Ukrainian positions in Kurakhove from the south
the Kremlin concentrated its efforts on pushing towards Pokrovsk — an important logistics hub in the western part of the Donetsk region
Russian forces took the nearby town of Novohrodivka in August and are currently less than 7 kilometres from Pokrovsk
Kyiv rushed in reinforcements to try to stall Russia’s advance
Ukrainian military officials are warning that Russian forces may intensify assaults in the Zaporizhzhia region in the near future
Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn said that Russian forces are moving trained assault groups to forward positions in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region
it is unclear if the Russian military intends to conduct a unified offensive operation or separate assaults
Voloshyn specifically said that Russian forces are concentrating near Kamyanske
northwest of Robotyne and south of Zaporizhzhia City
Moscow has increased the number of air strikes in southern Ukraine by 30 to 40% in the past two to three weeks
That’s according to President Volodymyr Zelensky
who reported this on Telegram after hearing the report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi
"A report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi
The Kurakhove axis is the most difficult now
We are working to strengthen our positions
The Zaporizhzhia axis – we see existing threats
Ukraine’s Defense Forces control the situation
Kursk operation – our soldiers are defending their positions and inflicting very tangible losses on the Russian army
Our task is to reduce Russia’s potential in the border area as much as possible,” Zelensky said
and officers performing their combat tasks
217 combat clashes were reported at the front in the past day