Russia said on Monday its forces had made important gains in eastern Ukraine while continuing to fend off a new Ukrainian offensive inside the Kursk region of western Russia, where a second day of fierce fighting was under way.

The Russian Defense Ministry described Kurakhove as a "fortified area" and "key logistics hub," while Ukraine's military reported ongoing combat there on Jan. 6. Read also: Kurakhove turns into a battlefield graveyard for Russian troops Russian forces are conducting assaults in Kurakhove and advancing toward Petropavlivka and Dachny,