Selydove

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predict that Russian forces are likely to focus on capturing Ukrainian cities during the winter of 2024-2025, shifting their strategy toward urban combat. This shift is seen as a response to the Ukrainian advantage in drones and the limitations of Russia's armored vehicles.

Kiev has announced a fresh mobilization drive as Moscow seized the mining hub of Selydove and the U.S. said some North Korean troops were in Russia's Kursk region, warning that thousands more were on their way.

Russia announced on Tuesday that it had successfully captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove, along with the town of Hirnyk, as open-source data indicated that Moscow's forces are advancing at their fastest pace in over a year. This advancement occurs amidst reports of North Korean troops being sent to Russia, raising concerns that the ongoing conflict is drawing in new players.

Russia announced on Friday that its forces had captured the village of Marynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, an area where they have been advancing toward the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Russian bombing raids killed three people including a child late Tuesday near Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk, local authorities said.

The strikes hit nine apartment blocks and a hospital in Selydove, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the front line, the local council said on Telegram.

Twelve people were also injured in the bombing, including four children, it added.

Day 683 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours: