RT reported that in an important development in the Donbass battlefield, the Russian army has officially taken control of the strategic town of Velikaya Novoselka, which was once considered Kiev’s “last bastion” in southern Donetsk. This information was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry on January 26, marking an important strategic step forward in the conflict.
Velikaya Novoselka serves as a key logistics hub and a major stronghold in Ukraine’s fortified defense line in Donbass. The town sits on the edge of the Vremevka Ledge area, a string of villages that Ukraine has turned into a key defensive position since the summer of 2023.
The area saw fierce fighting during Kiev's unsuccessful counteroffensive in 2023. However, in November 2024, the Russian army launched a major offensive and gradually surrounded Velikaya Novoselka, before taking full control of the town in January 2025.
The Russian Defense Ministry released video showing Russian troops, backed by drones and artillery, storming Velikaya Novoselka. One striking clip shows the moment the Russian flag is raised over the town’s central building, symbolizing the end of the battle.
In another video released on January 26, Russian soldiers were seen patrolling the town, standing on buildings and waving flags, marking the victory at Velikaya Novoselka.
Velikaya Novoselka was one of the last major towns that Ukraine still controlled in southern Donetsk. After losing the town, Kiev was left with only a few major cities such as Pokrovsk, Slavyansk, and Kramatorsk in the Donbass region.
Pokrovsk, 55km northeast of Velikaya Novoselka, was once an important Ukrainian supply hub. However, with the relentless advance of the Russian army, Pokrovsk has now become part of the front line. In December 2024, the Russian army also announced that it had captured the villages of Novotroitskoe and Novoolenovka near Pokrovsk, paving the way for further advances.
Velikaya Novoselka is not only strategically significant, but also marks a major turning point in Russia’s military campaign in Donbass. Since capturing the town of Avdeevka in February 2024, Russian troops have steadily pushed back Ukrainian forces, taking control of nearly 200 settlements over the past year, according to General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff.
The fall of Velikaya Novoselka shows the growing pressure on Ukrainian forces as Moscow continues its offensive, aiming to control the whole of Donbass.
