Russia claims to make gains in eastern Ukraine and take control of town
Russia said on Sunday that its forces had taken full control of a town in eastern Ukraine, while Moscow’s forces were advancing on the strategically important town of Pokrovsk and trying to penetrate the Ukrainian defensive front.
In an attempt to seize the entirety of Donbass, which is roughly half the size of the US state of Ohio, the Russian army is making advances in eastern Ukraine.Since entering the country in February 2022, the Russian army has taken control of about a fifth of Ukraine.
The town of Novohrodivka, which is 12 km (7 miles) from Pokrovsk, a vital rail and road hub for Ukrainian forces in the area, has been taken over by Russian forces, according to the ministry of defense of Russia. Before the war, there were 14,000 people living in the town.
Yuri Podolyaka, an influential, pro-Russian military blogger of Ukrainian origin, published maps showing Russian forces attacking at least two positions beyond Novohrodivka, less than 7 km (4 miles) from Pokrovsk.
The Ukrainian army’s general staff detailed fighting in the Pokrovsk sector, including Novohrodivka, in a report released Sunday evening.
It said 29 Russian advance attempts had been repelled, while seven clashes continued. “Our troops are taking measures to maintain the set positions,” it added.
However, a U.S.-funded Radio Liberty interview with a Ukrainian official last week claimed that Ukrainian forces had left Novohrodivka because the area was unsuitable for the city’s defense.