Russian Forces Capture Key Town Amid Eastern Ukraine Offensive

Russia has announced the capture of Novohrodivka, a town in eastern Ukraine, as part of its larger strategy to advance on Pokrovsk. This move is seen as a step toward gaining full control of the Donbas region. The ongoing conflict has seen both sides making conflicting claims about successes and setbacks.

On Sunday, Russian forces claimed full control of Novohrodivka, an eastern Ukrainian town, marking another step in Moscow's strategic advance toward Pokrovsk.

Currently controlling about a fifth of Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion, Russian forces aim to secure the whole Donbas region, which is roughly half the size of Ohio. Novohrodivka, 12 km from Pokrovsk, is a vital rail and road hub for Ukrainian troops. The town had a pre-war population of 14,000.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other military officials continue to report conflicting viewpoints, with Kyiv maintaining that their incursion into the Russian Kursk region aims to divert Russian resources. However, President Vladimir Putin insists that this incursion has not hampered their eastern advance.

(With inputs from agencies.)