Reuters reports that Russian forces are advancing into eastern Ukraine in an effort to take control of the entire Donbass.
On September 8 local time, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had captured the town of Novohrodivka, located 12km from Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk is an important rail and road hub for Ukrainian forces in the region.
In a report on the evening of September 8, the General Staff of the Ukrainian army provided detailed information about the fighting throughout the Pokrovsk region, including Novohrodivka.
The Russian advance has been repelled, with seven clashes still ongoing, the report said. But last week, a Ukrainian officer revealed that Ukrainian forces had abandoned Novohrodivka because it was difficult to hold.
Also last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Kiev's offensive in Russia's Kursk province had failed to slow Moscow's advance in eastern Ukraine and had weakened Kiev's defenses along the front line.
Russia now controls about 80% of Donbass .
