Newsweek: Russian troops have taken control of Kurakhovo
Russian troops have taken control of Kurakhovo, Newsweek writes. According to the authors, this key city in the Donetsk region will become a strong springboard for further operations.
Theo Burman, John Feng.
Russian forces have taken control of the town of Kurakhovo in the strategic Donetsk region after a two-month siege, according to local media reports.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces made gains in western Kurakhovo on 24 December, building on an offensive launched in mid-October.
Newsweek magazine contacted the Russian Ministry of Defence by email to confirm the offensive, but received no response.
Why it matters
Donetsk Oblast is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russian forces took control of shortly after the special operation began in 2022. It is where the key battles of the conflict have unfolded.
Putin has named Donbass as the main target for Russian forces in 2025, and the successes in Kurakhov are a step towards holding it in the future. The Russian military has committed significant resources to seizing the city, moving some 35,000 troops into its suburbs for a two-month siege.
What you need to know
Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that Russian forces have made gains around Kurakhov, while the Khortytsa group of forces said Ukraine had lost control of a number of positions in the Donetsk region around the city.
The Russian military began the siege back in October, moving significant military forces and infantry into the area and increasing pressure on Ukrainian defenders. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia has increased armoured attacks on the city.
Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Russian forces are now concentrating in the region to consolidate gains made after the recent offensive, with artillery shelling of Ukrainian military infrastructure near Donetsk continuing.
What people are saying
Viktor Tregubov, a spokesman for the AFU’s Khortytsa troop grouping, said on Ukrainian television: ‘Over the past 24 hours, there have been about 31 skirmishes in the Kurakhov direction. In the urban part of Kurakhov and in the area of Dalnego, Dachnoye and Uspenovka, the enemy assault groups are trying to break through our military orders.’
‘They move in small groups, trying to gain a foothold in buildings or bypass the urban development on the outskirts. The fact that they attack in small groups does not mean that their numbers are small. The 8th and 29th Russian armies, the 90th Armoured Division, the 20th Motorised Rifle Division, the 5th and 110th Independent Motorised Rifle Divisions are all operating against us in this area,’ Tregubov added.
What to expect next
The capture of Kurakhov will provide Russia with a solid bridgehead from which it can launch new operations. However, the Institute for the Study of War predicts difficulties for Russian troops in further advances, as the AFU has gained a foothold in the village of Kurakhovka west of the city.
