Russian Defence Ministry claims capture of Kurakhove, Ukrainian defenders report fighting ongoing in town

Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced on the morning of 6 January that the town of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast had been captured, but Ukrainian defenders have reported that Russian assaults continue in the city's urban areas.

Source: Russian Ministry of Defence; Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces

Details: The Russians describe the town as "a powerful fortified area with a developed network of long-term firing points and underground communications", as it is "covered by a reservoir from the north which significantly limited the manoeuvrability of Russian assault units".

Ukraine’s Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces stated that as of the morning of 6 January, the Russians were conducting assault operations in Kurakhove's urban area, specifically in and around Petropavlivka and Dachne.

Quote: "On the Kurakhove front, the enemy is conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove, in the area of Petropavlivka and Dachne. Measures to identify and destroy enemy assault groups attempting to infiltrate our combat formations are ongoing."

Background:

• Overnight on 5-6 January, the DeepState analytical project reported the advance of Russian troops in a number of settlements in Donetsk Oblast: in Toretsk, Zelene and Petropavlivka, and near Vozdvyzhenka, Baranivka and Pishchane.
• Overnight on 1-2 January, DeepState analysts reported that the Russians had advanced in Kurakhove and five other settlements in Donetsk Oblast.
• On 23 December, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that fighting was ongoing in the urban area of Kurakhove.
• On the evening of 14 December, DeepState reported that Russian forces were continuing to advance into Kurakhove, gradually occupying the central part of the city. A video circulated by the Russians showed a Russian flag on the Kurakhove City Council building. Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russian forces were conducting extensive assaults on the southeastern outskirts of Kurakhove, attempting to seize a road junction and a residential block in the city while also infiltrating it with sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

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