
Russia claims its military forces have captured the frontline town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
It is a city that has withstood and functioned as a shield against Russian advances over the past few months.
But Ukraine has not acknowledged the fall of Kurakhove, which was 35km south of Pokrovsk, the BBC reports.
Fierce fighting has been taking place in Russia's Kursk region in recent days, after Ukraine launched a counteroffensive on Sunday.
A photo generated by social media and sent to Reuters shows a soldier holding a Russian flag in Kurakhove. The image has not been verified by the BBC.
Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, told Reuters news agency that, as of Monday morning, Ukrainian forces have been engaging Russian troops inside Kurakhove.
Taking Kurakhove would allow the Russians to move north to attack Pokrovsk from a new direction, said analyst Roman Pohorily.
The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed on Monday that the village of Dachenske, which is located about 8 km south of Pokrovsk, had been captured by its forces.