Russia’s top military leadership announced on Thursday that its forces have taken full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Seversk, marking what Moscow calls a new stage in its ongoing offensive.

Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, informed President Vladimir Putin that the “Southern” group of troops had “liberated” the city.

“The city of Seversk has been liberated,” Gerasimov said during his briefing to the president.

He added that Russian assault units are continuing offensive operations in the nearby city of Konstantinovka, where “45% of the buildings are under our control.”

Sergei Medvedev, commander of the Southern Group of Troops, said the fall of Seversk has opened the way for further advances toward the strategic city of Sloviansk.

“Formations and military units of the Third Army… completed the liberation of the city of Seversk, thereby creating conditions for the further development of the offensive in the direction of the settlement of Slavyansk,” Medvedev reported to Putin.

Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s latest battlefield claims. The area remains one of the most heavily contested sectors along the eastern front. (ILKHA)