Russian forces claim another town captured in east Ukraine

Russia’s military says it has captured a small town in eastern Ukraine called Niu-York, as part of its push towards big population centres in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine’s military has not confirmed the loss of Niu-York, saying only that Russian forces are attacking close to the town and other areas.

Although only a small settlement, controlling Niu-York would represent another step towards the two Donetsk hubs of Toretsk and Pokrovsk.

One of the aims of Ukraine’s seizure of territory in Russia’s Kursk region is thought to be to force Russia to move some of its forces away from the eastern campaign.

There is no indication so far of that happening, despite Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi now claiming control of 93 Russian villages and towns.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the situation in the east as difficult, but said Ukrainian troops were doing all they could to destroy the Russian forces.