Ukraine’s Donetsk Region
The Russian army announced on Thursday that it has captured the Ukrainian town of Ukrainsk, situated in the eastern Donetsk region.
This development marks another significant territorial gain for Moscow’s advancing forces in their ongoing military campaign.
In a daily briefing shared on Telegram, the Russian Defense Ministry declared that its troops had successfully “liberated” Ukrainsk, a town that once boasted a population of over 10,000 residents prior to the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainsk’s capture is part of a broader trend in recent weeks, as Russian troops have made strides in taking control of several small villages and settlements in the Donetsk region.
The town is strategically located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Donetsk, the capital of the region, which is a focal point of the ongoing conflict.
Moscow’s military objectives include the complete control of the Donetsk region, and Russian officials have expressed that they expect Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the area as part of any potential peace negotiations.
Furthermore, Russia has outlined a precondition for peace talks, insisting on Ukraine’s withdrawal from other regions, including Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
On the previous day, the Russian military employed similar terminology, stating that it had “liberated the settlements” of Hostre and Hryhorivka in the Donetsk region.
Hostre is a small village located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Donetsk, while Hryhorivka is near the hilltop town of Chasiv Yar.
The continued advances by Russian forces signal a persistent effort to solidify their control in eastern Ukraine, emphasizing the ongoing volatility and complexity of the situation in the region.
The recent territorial gains have been accompanied by increasing tension as Ukraine seeks to maintain its sovereignty against what it considers an illegal invasion.
The situation remains fluid, with both military and diplomatic efforts ongoing as the international community closely monitors developments in the conflict.
