MOSCOW: Russia said on Sunday that its forces have captured another village in eastern Ukraine as they continue their advance towards the strategically important town of Pokrovsk.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said that its forces have taken control of Mykhailivka, which lies near the heavily damaged town of Selydove and just south of Pokrovsk.
“Our forces have successfully captured the village of Mykhailivka,” the ministry said in a statement.
Pokrovsk, a town that once had a population of around 60,000 before Russia launched its offensive, has become a major target for Moscow’s forces. The town’s capture would provide a significant foothold for Russian troops in eastern Ukraine and allow for further westward advances.
However, the prolonged fighting has left much of the surrounding region, including Selydove, in ruins, with most of the local population having fled due to heavy shelling.
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Kyiv acknowledged the severity of the situation over the weekend, with Ukrainian officials describing conditions in the region as “very difficult.”
Russian forces have been pushing steadily westwards through the Donetsk region, claiming control of multiple villages in recent months as they attempt to consolidate their hold on eastern Ukraine.
Pokrovsk, which lies in a critical mining region, has been fiercely contested as Ukraine’s military continues its resistance.
Despite Ukraine’s efforts, the sustained Russian offensive is exerting significant pressure on Kyiv’s forces. It has been claiming east Ukrainian villages for months.
