Russia: The army captured Kurahovo and targets Pokrovsk – “Intrepid Ukrainian attack on Kursk”

The announced today (06.01.2020) that it captured the city of Kurahovo in the east, after bloody three-month battles, which will allow it to be promoted even further with a view to the strategically important city of Pocroftsk. On the other hand, Kiev sees some parts of its troops retreating from this region, at the same time as the situation in Kursk border region in western Russia remains stable, despite the recent Ukrainian surprise attacks. CORVERSE Each side attempts to strengthen its positions, while speculation about the terms of future peace talks has been made over Donald’s return for weeks. Trump at the White House, on January 20, who has promised to put an end to the conflict soon. On the eastern front, after months of slow but continuous promotion, Russian troops “completely liberated the city of Kurahovo, the largest in the southwestern part of Donbass, ” an extended industrial zone, announced the Russian defence ministry. Kurahovo, which had about 22,000 residents before the war, was a first-line defensive position for Ukrainian military personnel in this area and is located near a significant lithium deposit, a rare ore. The city is located near an artificial lake and hosts a coal power station, which has been damaged by the fighting. CORVERSE Kurahovo is also located about 30 kilometres south of Pokrovsk, an essential for Ukrainian military custody hub threatened by Russians, who are less than six kilometers away. Russian forces also recently advanced near Borova, Toretsk, and Kurakhov. Ukrainian forces refocused positions near Chasiv Yar amid continued Russian offering operations in the area on January 5. (1/5) — Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belusov expressed in an announcement his satisfaction with this “the victory that will be a symbol of the bravery and determination of the soldiers of the Russian army”, while thanking the soldiers who took part in the attack for “their faith in the homeland”. The Russian Ministry of Defence considers that this conquest will allow the occupation of the rest of Donetsk’s district “at an accelerated pace” and also announced the occupation of the Dachenske settlement, just south of Pokrovsk. According to Moscow, Ukrainian forces had made Kurahovo a “fortified zone with a sniper position network and underground communications”. Russia has accelerated the promotion of its forces in eastern Ukraine, making in late 2024 its most important territorial gains since the first weeks of the conflict, almost three years ago. But it has not so far been able to make an extensive penetration and there is, according to Kiev, great losses. 4/ Geolocated footage published on January 5 showing elements of the Russian 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st CAA) raising a flag in central Petropavlivka (northwest of Kurakhove) indicates that Russian forces likely carefully framed the settlement. — Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) New Ukrainian attack on Kursk The Russian army is also facing other problems. In Kursk district, after weeks of operations to expel Ukrainian units from there, he announced that he was facing a counterattack. Ukrainians have controlled there since August a few hundred square kilometers, despite attempts by Russian troops to repel them, supported in this area by North Korean soldiers, according to Kiev. The Russian army argues that this Ukrainian “infiltration attempt” is aimed at the village of Bolsoye Soldachkoye and “disrupted”. “The main enemy forces were destroyed near the settlement of Berdin”, near a road that is going northeast, towards the city of Kursk, announced today. “ Of course this is not the end. We are now seeing concentration of enemy equipment in another direction and of course we understand that Ukrainians will try to attack in this direction. I will not say where at the moment,” said Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of a Chechen unit fighting for Russia in Kursk.