The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that its forces had taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine as they advanced westward in the Donetsk region, over three years into the invasion of its neighboring country.
A statement from the ministry reported that Russian forces had seized the village of Andriivka, located to the west of the logistics center of Kurakhove, previously claimed by Moscow in early January.
The Ukrainian military's General Staff did not confirm the capture of Andriivka by Russian forces. However, in a late evening report, it listed the settlement among five that had been targeted in 17 attacks by Russian forces trying to breach Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk sector of the Donetsk region. An ongoing armed clash was mentioned in the report.
According to the unofficial Ukrainian military blog DeepState, control over Andriivka was uncertain, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the conflicting reports from both sides.
Following the failed attempts to advance towards Kyiv after the February 2022 invasion, Russia has focused on solidifying control over Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Moscow now holds approximately 2% of Ukrainian territory and continues its gradual progress westward in Donetsk, capturing numerous villages.
The conflict has intensified around Pokrovsk, a strategic town and logistics hub, housing Ukraine's sole coking coal colliery for steel production. The colliery has been shut down with the approach of Russian forces.
Recent reports from Ukrainian military officials and analysts suggest successful defense of Pokrovsk and a decrease in Russian offensives.