Russia says its forces have captured the frontline town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
The city has borne the brunt of Russian advances in recent months and is a stepping stone to the key logistics center of Pokrovsk.
Ukraine has not recognized the fall of Kurakhove, located 35 kilometers south of Pokrovsk.
Heavy fighting has also taken place in Russia’s Kursk region in recent days after Ukraine launched a counterattack on Sunday.
An image taken from social media and provided by the Reuters news agency appears to show a soldier waving a Russian flag in Kurakhove. The image has not been verified by the BBC.
Viktor Trehubov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Khortytsia Force Group, told the Reuters news agency that as of Monday morning, Ukrainian forces were still engaging Russian troops inside Kurakhove.
Kurakhove is connected to Pokrovsk by roads which are part of the infrastructure for moving troops and supplies along the front line.
Capturing Kurakhove would allow the Russians to move north to attack Pokrovsk from a new direction, analyst Roman Pohorily said.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said on Monday that the village of Dachenske, located about 8 km south of Pokrovsk, had been captured by its forces.
kyiv’s forces are said to be undermanned and have lost ground in eastern Ukraine in recent months as Russian troops advance.
