Ukraine’s army has said it is clinging on to part of Kurakhove, a strategic town in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk that Russia claims to have captured.
The Ukrainian army accused Russia of using scorched-earth tactics to “completely destroy” it.
“Ukrainian troops are holding on in the western part of the town, on the western outskirts of the town,” Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia army unit, which is fighting in the area, said in an interview on national TV. “They are actually trying to dismantle the town brick by brick,” Mr Tregubov said.
It comes as Russia has suffered heavy losses in five months of fighting Ukrainian forces in its border Kursk region, with nearly 15,000 of Vladimir Putin’s troops killed, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.
“During the Kursk operation, the enemy has already lost 38,000 of their soldiers… with nearly 15,000 of these losses being irreversible,” Mr Zelensky said. Ukraine launched its surprise incursion inside Russia’s Kursk in August last year.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian soldiers renewed their offensive in a bid to gain as much territory as possible before Donald Trump enters office in Washington.
If the West gives an inch on Ukraine, Putin will take a mile
Tom Watling7 January 2025 16:30
Russia claims to capture village in eastern Ukraine after advances
Tom Watling7 January 2025 15:45
Ukrainian soldiers celebrate Epiphany – picture
Tom Watling7 January 2025 15:09
Slovak PM Fico to discuss gas transit with Commission on 9 January
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will discuss the end of Russian gas transit through Ukraine with representatives of the European Commission on 9 January in Brussels, Slovakia’s government office said on Tuesday.
Supplies through Ukraine stopped on 1 January after a transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia expired, but Fico had been keen to continue receiving Russian gas through that route and threatened to retaliate against Ukraine for what he said were large economic losses for Slovakia.
Tom Watling7 January 2025 14:41
Ukraine’s military reports ‘new offensive operations’ in Russia’s Kursk region
The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday its forces were commencing new offensive operations in Russia’s western Kursk region.
The general staff also said on Telegram that Ukrainian troops had hit a Russian command post in the region on Tuesday.
“The strike and a series of recent operations… were coordinated with the Ukrainian Ground Forces who are currently commencing new offensive operations,” it said.
Tom Watling7 January 2025 14:17
Putin has ruled Russia for 25 years – but what can he show for it?
Chris Stevenson7 January 2025 14:09
Ukraine is right to stop the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Ukraine is right to turn off the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Editorial: Almost three years after Putin’s invasion, it almost beggars belief that cheap energy from Russia was still being piped across war-ravaged Ukraine into Europe. Stopping it has triggered another global price spiral, and may yet have dire political consequences – but EU leaders cannot afford to maintain this habit
Chris Stevenson7 January 2025 13:54
Kyiv’s army has said it is clinging on to part of Kurakhove, a strategic town in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk that Russia claims to have captured.
The Ukrainian army said Tuesday fighting was still ongoing on the fringes of the town and accused Russia of using scorched-earth tactics to “completely destroy” it.
“Ukrainian troops are holding on in the western part of the town, on the western outskirts of the town,” Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia army unit, which is fighting in the area, said in an interview on national TV.
A “large part of the town has been destroyed”, he said, adding that Russians were grinding through the area, clearing the town building by building.
“They are actually trying to dismantle the town brick by brick,” Mr Tregubov said.
Chris Stevenson7 January 2025 13:39
Mapped: Russian advances in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region
Tom Watling7 January 2025 13:08
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains?
Tom Watling7 January 2025 12:39
