Russian forces have taken control of the strategic town of Kurakhove in Ukraine's Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Monday.

According to the ministry, seizing Kurakhove has dealt a significant blow to the logistics and technical support systems of Ukrainian forces operating in the region. The town's strategic importance lies in its location, just 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub that Ukraine has relied on heavily for months.

Kurakhove's capture represents a key development in Russia's ongoing efforts to secure broader control over the Donetsk region. For months, Russian forces have been advancing toward Pokrovsk, aiming to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines and strengthen their grip on contested territories in eastern Ukraine.

While the Ukrainian side has yet to issue a statement on the situation in Kurakhove, the development underscores the intensifying conflict in the Donetsk region, where both sides are locked in a struggle for control of key towns and infrastructure.

The fall of Kurakhove may signal further challenges for Ukrainian forces as they work to maintain their defense lines in the face of sustained Russian advances. (ILKHA)