Russia’s Defense Ministry is claiming that its troops in eastern Ukraine have captured the town of Kurakhove after a monthslong battle.

Russia said on Monday (Jan 6) its forces had made important gains in eastern Ukraine while continuing to fend off a new Ukrainian offensive inside the Kursk region of western Russia, where a second da

The claim, which drew no response from Ukrainian authorities, came a day after the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had pressed new attacks in Russia’s Kursk border region.

Ukraine has launched a fresh offensive in Russia's Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry says. In a statement, the ministry said efforts to destroy the Ukrainian attack groups were ongoing. Officials in Ukraine have also suggested an operation is under way.

Kurakhove is a key stronghold for the Ukrainian army on the eastern front line, and includes an industrial zone, a thermal power plant and a reservoir. It also sits on a highway running between eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces did not confirm the claim, saying only that Russia was “conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove”.

Russia said Monday its forces captured the "important logistics hub" of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area. Russian units "have fully liberated the town of Kurakhove — the biggest settlement in southwestern Donbas,