Russia Claims Capture of Strategic Kurakhovo City in Ukraine's Donetsk Region

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of Kurakhovo, a strategic city in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

In a statement released Monday on Telegram, the ministry announced that the Southern (Yug) battle group had established full control over Kurakhovo after months of intense fighting.

"In the course of active offensive actions, the Southern battle group has completely liberated the city of Kurakhovo – the largest settlement in the southwestern part of Donbass," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces suffered significant losses in their defense of the city. It claimed that over 12,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded, and nearly 3,000 units of military equipment, including 40 tanks and armored vehicles, were destroyed during the battle.

"During the two months of fighting near Kurakhovo, Ukraine's daily military losses averaged between 150 and 180 people killed and wounded," the statement added.

The city, an industrial hub and home to 18,000 residents before the war, was heavily fortified by Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry described Kurakhovo as a stronghold with “an intricate network of permanent fire points and underground communications.” Its northern flank, reinforced by a water reservoir, had posed significant challenges to Russian assault units.

Kurakhovo’s strategic location on the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk highway made it a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian forces. Its fall would complicate Ukrainian resupply efforts in the region and strengthens Russia’s position in the ongoing conflict.

“Establishing control over this important logistics hub has significantly complicated the rear and technical support of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Donetsk direction,” the Russian ministry claimed.

The Russian ministry also emphasized that Ukrainian artillery systems, targeting civilian areas in Donetsk city, could no longer operate from this location.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have not yet officially confirmed the loss of Kurakhovo. On Monday morning, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported repelling 27 attacks in the Donetsk direction over the previous 24 hours. However, Ukrainian troops have faced increasing pressure from Russian advances in the recent weeks.

The city’s defenses were significantly weakened after the fall of nearby towns and villages. The Russian capture of Ugledar in October marked a turning point, enabling them to approach Kurakhovo from multiple directions. By late 2024, Ukrainian forces defending Kurakhovo were effectively in a semi-encirclement, struggling to maintain their supply lines.

The fiercest fighting in recent days took place around the industrial zone near the Kurakhivska thermal power plant and the western outskirts of the city. Ukrainian forces had managed to hold positions near the villages of Georgievka and Maksimilianovka to the east, but their northern defenses collapsed after the loss of territory around the Kurakhovo reservoir.

Additionally, Russian forces advanced on the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk highway west of the city, cutting off critical supply routes. Due to significant disruptions in logistical assistance, the Ukrainian garrison's standing became unattainable.

If Kurakhovo's capture by the Russian side is confirmed, military analysts warn that Moscow may shift its focus toward advancing further west, potentially toward the Zaporizhzhia region.