Russia takes two Ukrainian towns as it advances at fastest pace in a year

Russia said on Tuesday it had taken two eastern Ukrainian towns and open-source data indicated that Moscow’s forces were advancing at their fastest pace in at least a year amid signs the conflict is drawing in new players such as North Korea.

The 2-1/2-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what Russian analysts say is its most dangerous phase as Moscow’s forces advance, North Korea sends troops to Russia and the West ponders how the conflict will end.

Russia said its forces had seized control of the town of Selydove, which had a population of 20,000 before the war and had been under sustained attack over the last week.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov also congratulated Russia’s 114th motorized rifle brigade on taking Hirnyk, which had a pre-war population of over 10,000 and lies about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Selydove.

Ukraine’s military did not comment directly on the Russian claims but reported 31 combat clashes on the Pokrovsk front during the past 24 hours, including near Selydove.