Russian troops are redeploying from Kurakhove, captured in late December, to strengthen their position for an offensive around Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.
Ukrainian forces have refuted reports that Russian troops have fully occupied the city of Kurakhove, maintaining control over key positions in the area, including the thermal power plant.
Russian troops have penetrated Ukrainian defenses near Pokrovsk, threatening a critical railway junction that supplies ammunition across Ukraine's eastern front, as intense fighting erupts across multiple settlements in the region.
Russians advanced near Donetsk's Siversk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, as well as in western Zaporizhia Oblast, ISW says.
The Russian forces launch multiple attacks against Ukrainian positions while attempting to outflank the city and disrupt military communications, according to a Ukrainian military spokesperson.
After deploying tens of thousands of troops and conducting numerous armored assaults since mid-October, Russian forces have advanced to the settlement's administrative boundaries.
While Russia compensates with air strikes and infantry pushes, this reduced edge could force Moscow to rethink its strategy of overwhelming bombardment, potentially opening new opportunities for Ukrainian forces.