Russian forces say they have captured another village, Zoryane: Why does this matter?

Russia on Saturday (October 19) announced that its forces have captured the village of Zoryane in eastern Ukraine, marking another step toward the industrial hub of Kurakhove.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said units from the Yug Group of Forces were behind the operation, which resulted in the capture of Zoryane in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian armed forces suffered heavy losses, with an estimated 830 troops killed, along with the destruction of two motor vehicles and two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations.

Significance of Gornyak

Zoryane lies just two kilometers southeast of Gornyak, a small town with a population of about 10,500 people. The capture of Zoryane brings Russian forces closer to Gornyak, which is strategically important due to its key railway line that supplies the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donbas region.

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Gornyak is also home to several major coal mines, which Moscow hopes to disrupt by advancing further into the area. The loss of these mines could deliver a significant blow to Ukraine’s coal industry.

Significance of Kurakhove

Russia’s ultimate focus in this part of the conflict appears to be Kurakhove, an industrial town located just west of the Russian-held city of Donetsk. Russian forces are now positioned only a few kilometers from Kurakhove’s center, where fierce fighting is expected.

Before the Russian invasion in 2022, Kurakhove was home to around 20,000 people and lies just south of the logistical hub of Pokrovsk.

At the same time, Russian troops have also intensified their attacks in the southern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

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Zelenskyy’s vistory plan

The continued Russian offensive comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy works to rally international support for his “victory plan.”

Zelenskyy’s plan, which includes pursuing NATO membership for Ukraine, remains largely undisclosed, but he has outlined its core aspects to lawmakers in Kyiv. Several details of the plan remain classified.

With inputs from agencies