Even as Ukraine goes deeper in Kursk, Russia continues to win territories in Donetsk region

Even as Ukraine continues to make gains in the Kursk region, Russia has continued its offensive in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Ukraine launched the ongoing offensive in Russia’s border region of Kursk that took the Russian forces there by surprised. The offensive, which has now spread to the second border region of Belgorod, has so far led to the capture of one city, more than 80 settlements, and a total of around 1,000 square kilometres of territories.

The stated purpose of the offensive has been to relieve the pressure on Ukrainian forces in other theatres of war , but Russia has continued to press on in the eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province. Since the invasion began in 2022, the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine comprising Donetsk and Luhansk have seen most of the fighting.

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Now, Russia has claimed to have captured the village of Sergiivka, near the Ukrainian-held logistics hub of Pokrovsk, according to AFP.

The victory of Sergiivka is the latest that Russia has claimed to have scored in eastern Ukraine this month. Starting with Avdiivka, Russia said it has won dozens of villages in eastern Ukraine — many since May when it launched a surprise offensive in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine in May.

The importance of Russia’s latest victory

The village of Sergiivka lies around 15 kilometres (9 miles) away from key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk lies on the intersection of an important road that supplies Ukrainian forces and towns in the eastern theatre and has long been a target for Russia, according to AFP.

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The control of village is expected to benefit Russia in the assault on Pokrovsk. For months, Russia has been moving towards the city and has been slicing of villages on the outskirts of the city. Earlier this week, the Russian forces claimed to have captured two villages near Pokrovsk: Lysychne and Ivanivka.

The situation is dire and Pokrovsk’s military administration has ordered the remaining locals to evacuate. It said the Russians were just around 10 kms away.

“The enemy is rapidly approaching the outskirts of Pokrovsk. Evacuation is underway,” said the administration on Telegram, as per AFP.