Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine may be approaching another critical point. A Russian installed official in the occupied Donetsk region claims Russian troops are now just a few kilometres away from the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk.
The statement was reported by Russian state news agency TASS and attributed to the Moscow backed head of the region.
If true, the advance would bring Russian forces dangerously close to one of the most important Ukrainian strongholds in the eastern front.
The claim has not been independently verified. Ukraine has not confirmed that Russian troops are that close to the city.
Sloviansk frontline battle intensifies
Sloviansk has long been one of the most strategic cities in eastern Ukraine. It sits in the Donetsk region and acts as a major defensive hub for Ukrainian forces.
The city has already seen repeated missile and bomb attacks during the war. Just days ago, Russian strikes on the city killed four people and injured at least 16 others, including a teenage girl.
If Russian forces move closer to the city, the fighting around Sloviansk could become even more intense. Military analysts say the city is part of a defensive line that protects larger Ukrainian held areas further west.
Russian Donetsk governor claims territorial progress
The statement about Russian troops nearing Sloviansk came from the Russian installed leadership in the occupied Donetsk Oblast.
Moscow has claimed control over most of the region. According to Russian backed authorities, Ukrainian forces now hold only around 15 to 17 percent of Donetsk territory.
Ukraine strongly rejects these claims and says it will never recognize Russian control over its land.
Why Sloviansk is a key target in the Ukraine war
Sloviansk has major symbolic and military importance. It was one of the first cities seized by pro Russian separatists during the early fighting in 2014 before Ukrainian forces later retook it.
Today the city remains a key logistics and defense center for Ukrainian troops operating in the eastern battlefield.
If Russian forces manage to capture Sloviansk, it could open the road toward other major cities such as Kramatorsk and further weaken Ukraine’s defensive line in the Donbas region.
For now the battlefield situation remains unclear. Both sides continue to release conflicting claims about territorial gains.
But one thing is certain. Fighting in eastern Ukraine is far from over. And cities like Sloviansk remain at the center of the war’s most dangerous frontlines