Russia claims capture of Ukrainian front-line town of Kurakhove

Russia claims its forces have captured the front-line town of Kurakhov in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

The city has borne the brunt of the Russian advance in recent months and serves as a stepping stone to the main logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine did not acknowledge the fall of Korakhov, which is located 35 kilometers (21 miles) south of Pokrovsk.

Heavy fighting also took place in the Russian Kursk region in recent days after that Ukraine launched a counterattack Sunday.

A photo taken from social media and provided by the Reuters news agency appears to show a soldier carrying a Russian flag in Korakhov. The photo has not been verified by the BBC.

As of Monday morning, Ukrainian forces were still clashing with Russian forces inside Korakhov, Viktor Trikhupov, spokesman for the Ukrainian Khortytsya Forces Group, told Reuters news agency.

Kurakhov is connected to Pokrovsk by roads that form part of the infrastructure for transporting troops and supplies along the front line.

Analyst Roman Pohorelli said that capturing Kurakhov would allow the Russians to turn north to attack Pokrovsk from a new direction.

The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed on Monday that its forces captured the village of Dachinsky, located about 8 kilometers south of Pokrovsk.

Ukrainian forces are reportedly undermanned and losing territory in eastern Ukraine in recent months, as Russian forces advance.