Russia Announces Control of Korakhiv Town in Eastern Ukraine

Russia announced its control of the town of Korakhiv in eastern Ukraine after three months of fighting, claiming that this advance would allow its forces to seize the rest of the Donetsk region “at an accelerated pace.”

This announcement comes as Ukrainian forces, which have been facing setbacks for months on the eastern front of the country, launch a new offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces have controlled hundreds of square kilometers since their attack in August 2024. Both sides are seeking to strengthen their positions amid widespread speculation over the future terms of peace negotiations, ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

On the southern front, after months of slow fighting but with continuous progress, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said on Telegram that Russian units had “completely liberated” Korakhiv, the largest population center in southwestern Donbas.

The industrial city, which had a population of about 22,000 before the war, is home to an energy plant that was damaged by the fighting.

Korakhiv is about thirty kilometers from the strategic city of Pokrovsk, which is crucial for securing logistical supplies for the Ukrainian army, and the Russian military is now within six kilometers of it.