Russian forces are engaged in fierce battles in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Selydove and Ukrainsk, according to pro-Russian bloggers on Monday. These advances are part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to breach Ukraine’s defensive lines.
Russian Push In Eastern Ukraine
Russian troops, which currently control 18% of Ukraine, have been steadily advancing in the east following the failure of Kyiv’s 2023 counter-offensive to achieve significant gains. Despite a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, Russian forces have continued to push forward, making rapid progress through settlements on the way to the strategically crucial city of Pokrovsk.
Pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reported that intense battles were taking place in Selydove, approximately 20 km (12 miles) south of Pokrovsk, and in Ukrainsk, around 14 km (10 miles) south of Selydove. Both cities had significant populations before the war, with Selydove housing over 20,000 residents and Ukrainsk around 10,000.
Strategic Significance Of The Region
The Rybar pro-Russian blogger confirmed the ongoing fighting in both cities, and Russian state news agency TASS claimed that Ukrainian forces had been pushed out of part of Selydove. The Russian advance southward toward the city of Kurakhivka aims to penetrate Ukrainian defensive lines, gaining control over the vital Pokrovsk-Donetsk road and potentially encircling a significant portion of territory.
This escalation in Donetsk coincides with Moscow’s efforts to repel Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk region. The August 6 incursion into Kursk was partly designed to force Russia to redirect troops from other areas of the front, but Russian forces have managed to maintain their offensive momentum in the eastern regions of Ukraine.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
