Russian troops have reportedly captured the town of Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast. The town, situated at the juncture of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts, is Ukraine’s final major stronghold in the southern Donbas region.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced the capture of Velyka Novosilka, a town that was home to approximately 5,000 residents before the war, following a prolonged battle. The claim has not been independently verified.
Video of Russian armored assaults on Velyka Novosilka from Russia’s 5th Tank Brigade.https://t.co/6c3S3Kxhpu pic.twitter.com/Eqj0WdILEJ
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) January 24, 2025
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its troops had raised a Russian flag in the center of Velyka Novosilka and divided the town in two, effectively isolating Ukrainian forces.
🚨🇷🇺Russian soldiers raise the flag in Velyka Novosilka https://t.co/P9uZayza69 pic.twitter.com/skcSboMMjX
— LogKa (@LogKa11) January 24, 2025
Ukraine’s 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade did not confirm the capture but reported that its forces had withdrawn from certain areas to avoid encirclement due to shortages in equipment and manpower.
According to the brigade, Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions in the town’s northwestern areas and the fighting continues near the village, about 15 kilometers east of the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The brigade said although Russian forces are expected to capture the village soon, advancing their offensive further will be challenging as the Mokri Yaly River poses a significant obstacle, and Russian troops may find themselves in a vulnerable “fire pocket.”
“Any movement is suppressed by shells and drones,” said the brigade.
A source cited by Kyiv Independent said Russia is anticipated to complete the capture within “days.” If successful, it would mark Russia’s first significant victory of the year.
The recent Russian advancement comes as both Russia and Ukraine vie for strategic positioning ahead of possible ceasefire negotiations brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a large international peacekeeping force—at least 200,000 troops—to enforce any future ceasefire with Russia.
