Russia claims to capture Kurakhove, Ukraine denies

The Khortytsia operational-strategic troop grouping shared the information on Telegram.

At 8 a.m., the Ukrainian Defense Forces reported: "In the Kurakhove sector, Russian forces are conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove, towards Petropavlivka and Dachne. Measures are ongoing to detect and destroy Russian assault groups attempting to infiltrate our combat formations."

At 6 a.m., the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the city had supposedly been captured.

"Units of the Southern Group of Forces have completely 'liberated' the city of Kurakhove – the largest settlement in the southwest part of Donbas," the statement said.

• On Sunday, January 5, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region.