Russia’s military has claimed the capture of Niu-York, a small town in eastern Ukraine, as part of its broader push towards major population centers in the Donetsk region. However, Ukraine’s military has not confirmed the loss of Niu-York, stating only that Russian forces are actively attacking near the town and surrounding areas. The Ukrainian army is providing a “worthy rebuff,” and the fighting continues, according to their statement.
Though Niu-York is a small settlement, its capture would mark another advance towards the key Donetsk hubs of Toretsk and Pokrovsk. Some believe Ukraine’s recent gains in Russia’s Kursk region aim to force Russia to divert forces from the eastern front, though there has been no sign of this happening. Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, claims control over 93 Russian villages and towns.
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the difficult situation in the east but emphasized that Ukrainian troops are doing everything possible to weaken Russian forces. Russia is reportedly sending additional troops to reinforce its eastern campaign, according to Ukrainian military briefings.
In a statement, Russia’s defense ministry reported that its Centre forces group defeated Ukrainian troops in Niu-York, describing it as a strategically important logistics hub and one of the largest settlements in the Toretsk agglomeration. Russian military bloggers also circulated footage of a Russian flag being hoisted over a school in Niu-York, though the video was recorded two weeks ago, and Ukrainian forces have since damaged the site with a drone strike.
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Meanwhile, Russian forces claimed the capture of Zalizne, southeast of Toretsk, though Ukrainian forces reported they were still fighting in the area and retain control over parts of Niu-York. On Monday, Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of Pokrovsk, as Russian forces advanced to within 10km (6 miles) of the town.
In response to Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kursk region, which has advanced 28-35km beyond the border and placed over 1,200 square kilometers under Ukrainian control, Russia has formed new military groupings in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions. Their mission is to protect citizens and territories from drone and other assaults. Russian officials have downplayed Ukraine’s successes in Kursk, with Maj. Gen. Apti Alaudinov, commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces unit, claimed that Ukraine’s forces have suffered severe losses.
Reports indicate that bridges have been blown up over the River Seym, cutting off evacuation and supply routes, forcing local police to use private boats to transport civilians. Meanwhile, German photographer Nanna Heitmann noted growing frustration among local Russians over the lack of accurate information from state media. Russian President Vladimir Putin, seemingly caught off guard by Ukraine’s offensive, likened it to the 2004 Beslan school massacre by Chechen militants, during a visit to North Ossetia. He vowed to combat those committing crimes in the Kursk region, Donbas, and what he referred to as Novorossiya.
