War in Ukraine | Moscow claims capture of new locality in eastern Ukraine

(Moscow) The Russian army claimed Monday the conquest of a new locality in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been retreating for months, facing a more numerous and more armed adversary.

“As a result of the resolute action of the units of the “South” group of forces, the village of Yelyzavtivka […] was released,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The town is located about ten kilometers south of Kourakhové, an industrial city that Moscow has been trying to conquer for weeks.

The day before, he had claimed the capture of the village of Vessely Gaï, south of Kourakhové, and that of Pushkiné, south of Pokrovsk, a mining town in Donbass and an important logistical node for the Ukrainian army.

The Ukrainian force grouping in Khortytsia on Sunday reported “exhausting confrontations” underway in the surrounding area and in the town of Kurakhové, as well as further north in the stormed hill town of Chasiv Yar.

“The situation is complex and changing. Our troops are currently organizing themselves to improve the tactical situation,” commented this military group on the Telegram network.

Despite heavy losses, but with numerical and weapons superiority, the Russians accelerated their advances in Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Kurakhové and Pokrovsk are located.

Russia has conquered 189 Ukrainian localities in 2024 and has the initiative on “the entire front line”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday in a speech to the main executives of his Defense Ministry.

“Russian troops have the strategic initiative across the entire line of contact” in Ukraine, he said, demanding “the liberation of 189 localities” during 2024.

“I would like to emphasize that the past year was a pivotal year in terms of achieving the objectives of the special military operation,” he added, using the euphemism required in Russia to mention the assault on Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Beloussov, who spoke after Mr. Putin, told him that Russia had taken 4,500 km² of Ukrainian territory this year, and was currently advancing by “30 km² per day.”

The minister gave no indication as to Russian losses, a sensitive and classified subject, but claimed to have counted 560,000 soldiers killed or wounded in 2024 and a million since the start of the Russian assault in February 2022. Data unverifiable.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted last week to the deaths of 43,000 soldiers and 370,000 wounded. He estimated Russian losses at 198,000 killed and 550,000 wounded.

Mr. Putin once again accused NATO countries, allies of Ukraine, of posing a threat to Russia.

“NATO countries are increasing their military spending. Alliance intervention groups were formed and assembled near Russia’s borders,” he charged.

Minister Andreï Beloussov judged that the Russian army must prepare “for all possible developments in the situation, including the possibility of armed conflict with NATO in Europe in the decades to come”.

Ukraine is urgently demanding more resources from its Western allies, at a time when the sustainability of American support is no longer guaranteed, with the return to power of Donald Trump in January.

Another worry for Kyiv is the arrival on the battlefield of thousands of North Korean soldiers to reinforce the Russians.

Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) said Monday that at least 30 of these soldiers were injured or killed on Saturday and Sunday in the Russian region of Kursk, partially occupied by Kyiv forces since August.

The Kremlin refused to comment on the subject, as usual regarding the deployment of North Korean forces which Moscow has never confirmed or denied.

According to the Ukrainian GUR, these North Koreans were engaged in fighting near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorojba and Martynovka in the Russian region of Kursk, of which Ukraine has controlled several hundred square kilometers since the summer.

Kyiv had launched this offensive into Russian territory, in an attempt to force the Russian army to turn away from eastern Ukraine, a tactic which did not work, as the Russian army continued to advance.