Russia’s army said that its forces had captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove on Tuesday as Moscow’s troops advance closer to the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.
The capture of the frontline town of Selydove, located approximately 18 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk, is Russia’s most recent victory, as it has captured significant swathes of land in the Donetsk region in recent months.
“As a result of successful operations… the town of Selidovo in the Donetsk region is fully liberated”, the defence ministry said, using the Russian spelling for Selydove.
The announcement came shortly after Moscow claimed control of two adjacent villages, Bogoyavlenka and Katerynivka, as well as the small town of Girnyk, all of which are located south of Selydove and close the Ukrainian-held industrial town Kurakhove.
Selydove had a population of roughly 20,000 before Russia launched its offensive.
The town had the only coal mine in the Donetsk region that remained under Ukrainian control.
It continued operating despite its frontline location, providing an important resource for Ukraine.
The Russian army took 478 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in October, a record since the first weeks of the conflict in March 2022, according to an AFP analysis of data from the American Institute for the Study of War.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
