RUSSIA has claimed that its troops had captured Velyka Novosilka, a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced the fall of Velyka Novosilka, which had around 5,000 residents before Russia’s “special military operation” began.

If confirmed, it would make Velyka Novosilka the first significant town to fall to the Russian’s during 2025 in a war that is set to reach its three-year milestone in February.