Russia’s military said on Monday it had captured a town in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region near the strategic city of Pokrovsk, towards which its forces have been advancing rapidly in recent weeks, AFP reported.

In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said its forces had taken control of the town of Mimrik, about 20 kilometres from Pokrovsk and less than five kilometres from the town of Selidovo.

On Sunday, the Russian army announced it had captured another town in the region, Novorodivka.

For weeks, Pokrovsk has been a target for Russian forces, who have been closing in on it in the face of a Ukrainian army that is outnumbered and outgunned by the Russian army.