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) imply that Russian forces were concentrated in western Kurakhov on December 24, achieving an advance that 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 Ukrainian regions annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the first escalation of the invasion in 2022, making it one of the main battlegrounds of 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.
The Ukrainian government proved that Russian forces were entrenched around Kurakhove, and the Khortytsia Group of Forces reported that Ukraine had lost several positions in the Donetsk region around the city.
The Russian army began the siege in October, sending massive army and infantry forces into the domain to put more pressure on the Ukrainian defenders. ISW knowledge indicates that Russia has a higher number of armored attacks against the city, resulting in heavy vehicle losses in 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.
Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Ukrainian Khortytsia Force Group, told Ukrainian television: “About 31 fights have taken their position in the Kurakhove sector in the last 24 hours. “The groups seek to continue infiltrating our fighting formations. “
“They move in small teams, seeking to assure the elderly in buildings or avoid the structures of the city on the outskirts. The fact that they attack in small teams does not mean that there is not many of them in general. 29 armies, the division 90 of Tanks, the 20th Motor Rifle Division and the separate divisions of the 5 and 110 motor rifle are operating to us in this area. “
Kurakhov’s capture provides Russia with a strong foothold in the region from which it can release long-term operations. However, the ISW predicts that Russian forces would possibly struggle to advance, as Ukraine still maintains a strong presence in Kurakhivska, west of the city.
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Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is on U.S. politics and international news, as well as the impact of digital culture on elections. He has covered electoral and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., along with high-profile legal cases such as the trials of Andrew Tate and Donald Trump. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates.You can get in touch with Theo by emailing [email protected]. Languages: English.