Intense Battles in Eastern Ukraine: Russian Forces Advance

Pro-Russian bloggers report intense fighting in Selydove and Ukrainsk as Russian forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine. This push follows Ukraine's failed 2023 counter-offensive. Battles aim to break through Ukrainian defenses near the strategic city of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces have reportedly been expelled from parts of Selydove.

Pro-Russian bloggers have reported that Russian forces are engaged in intense battles in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Selydove and Ukrainsk. These efforts are part of Moscow's broader strategy to penetrate Ukraine's defensive line.

As of now, no immediate comment has been issued by Ukrainian officials regarding the alleged Russian advances. Russian troops, currently controlling 18% of Ukrainian territory, have been gaining ground in eastern Ukraine since Kyiv's 2023 counter-offensive failed to yield significant results. The numerically superior Russian army has swiftly moved through several settlements, advancing towards the strategically crucial city of Pokrovsk.

Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, described ongoing intense battles in Selydove and Ukrainsk. Both cities had populations exceeding 20,000 and 10,000, respectively, prior to the conflict's eruption in February 2022. The Rybar, another pro-Russian blogger, echoed these accounts, noting that Ukrainian forces had been ousted from parts of Selydove. The Kremlin's forces are pushing south towards Kurakhivka with the aim of breaking through Ukrainian defensive lines and gaining control over the Pokrovsk-Donetsk route.

(With inputs from agencies.)