Russia claims to have captured the strategically significant settlement of Velyka Novosilka in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast, which is located near the border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
However, Ukraine's military only acknowledges a partial withdrawal and ongoing fighting in the settlement.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that geolocated evidence shows Russian forces occupy 89% of Velyka Novosilka, but there's no sign of encirclement.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry states that its troops have escaped encirclement and withdrawn from the southern part of the settlement, holding important positions on the outskirts.
Russia's capture of Velyka Novosilka would be its most significant gain in Donetsk since Kurakhove earlier in January.
The ISW suggests that Russia's vocal claims about the seizure aim to shape Western perceptions of the battlefield and degrade international support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are poised to seize Toretsk, with advances near the district of Krymske in the north of the town.
However, Ukraine's military reports unsuccessful Russian pushes in the Kharkiv and Kupiansk directions.
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