MOSCOW: Russia on Sunday claimed to have captured another Ukrainian village, located just 12 kilometres from the key eastern logistics hub Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, as its troops advance rapidly to several strategic Ukrainian sites.
The Russian defence ministry claimed it had “liberated the settlement of Vichneve following offensive operations”.
The capture of Vichneve follows a series of territorial gains by Russian forces in recent weeks. On Saturday, Russian officials stated that their troops had taken control of Kurakhivka, a large village near the industrial town of Kurakhove, another target for Russia in the region.
Moscow also reported capturing the village of Pershotravneve in the Kharkiv region, which lies near Ukraine’s eastern Lugansk area.
Pokrovsk, the next target on Russia’s advancing front, serves as a critical transportation link in the Donbas region. The town’s logistical importance is compounded by its proximity to a major coke coal mine, essential for Ukraine’s steel production and military needs.
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Control over Pokrovsk would provide Russia with significant leverage, disrupting Ukrainian supply lines and hampering efforts to maintain fortified positions in the region. Russian forces have reportedly advanced to within a few kilometres of Pokrovsk.
According to an analysis by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops claimed around 478 square kilometres (185 square miles) of Ukrainian territory in October alone. This expansion marks one of the most significant gains since the early weeks of the conflict in March 2022.
