In the ongoing battle for control in eastern Ukraine, Russia has claimed to have captured the strategically important town of Kurakhove, located in the Donetsk region. This small town, battered by months of heavy fighting, has been a focal point of Russian advances and, if true, its fall could open the door for further Russian progress towards the vital logistical hub of Pokrovsk.
However, Ukraine is not ready to concede defeat. Despite Russia’s claims and verified footage showing Russian soldiers raising their flag on the town’s outskirts, Kyiv has yet to acknowledge Kurakhove’s capture. The situation on the ground remains tense, with Ukrainian forces still engaged in combat, particularly in the western part of the town.
Kurakhove has been under relentless attack for months, suffering significant destruction as Russia pushes closer to Pokrovsk, just 35 km to the north. According to Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, Ukrainian troops are still holding out in parts of the town. “Fighting is ongoing,” Trehubov stated on Monday, underlining that Ukrainian forces have not abandoned the town despite the pressure.
Russian claims of victory were bolstered by the release of several flag-raising videos, which showed Russian troops on the outskirts of Kurakhove and its surrounding areas. Despite these visuals, Ukrainian journalist Yury Butusov was blunt in his assessment, writing on his Telegram channel that Kurakhove was “effectively lost.” Ukrainian bloggers have also reported that their forces are being subjected to heavy fire from Russia’s multiple rocket launchers and glide bombs, making the situation increasingly dire.
A Ukrainian monitoring group, DeepState, which tracks the front lines of the conflict using open-source intelligence, confirmed that most of Kurakhove was under Russian control by Tuesday afternoon. Yet, Kyiv’s official stance remains that the town is still contested, with Ukrainian troops fiercely defending what remains of it.
Why does this matter? Kurakhove is a crucial link to Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for Ukraine. If Russia has truly captured the town, it would be a significant step forward, enabling them to attack Pokrovsk from a new direction. As military analyst Roman Pohorily explained, taking Kurakhove would give Russia greater manoeuvrability in the region, putting more pressure on Ukrainian forces.
In addition to the developments in Kurakhove, Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have taken another key position: the village of Dachenske, located just 8 km south of Pokrovsk. This further intensifies the Russian push towards the city.
While Russia’s advances in the east continue, reports indicate that Ukraine is facing significant manpower shortages, complicating efforts to hold the line. With Russian forces steadily gaining ground, the conflict in Donetsk is far from over. But despite the growing challenges, Ukrainian soldiers continue to stand their ground, determined to defend every inch of their land.
