MEZIESBLOG

Joe Biden is set to sanction more Russian oil tankers in the dying days of his administration, according to sources cited by the Reuters news agency. 

“It’s a very substantial package. Two Russian oil companies, more than 100 tankers, oil traders, Russian insurance companies etc,” one of the officials said, without naming the entities. 

It would be the latest in a series of moves that has seen Biden shore up US support for Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. 

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Washington has sanctioned dozens of the ships out of a fleet estimated to be in the hundreds, to reduce Moscow’s ability to fund the war. 

Russia claims to capture another town as it closes in on Pokrovsk

Russia claims to have captured another town on the route to the key logistics town of Pokrovsk. 

The Russian defence ministry said its forces had captured the town of Kurakhove, 32km south of the city. 

Kurakhove has been fiercely defended by Ukrainian troops, given its proximity to what is seen as a crucial gateway into the rest of the Donbas region.

Ukraine has only noted fighting in the area, and has not said that Russian forces have control. 

Moscow claims the reported capture of the town would allow Russian troops to step up preparations ahead of an expected direct assault on Pokrovsk itself. 

The town has been under aerial bombardment and is slowly being advanced on from several sides by Moscow’s troops, who have for months sought to capture it.

Russian advances appear to have picked up speed in recent weeks.

Analysts and military experts say the town is a key part of Ukraine’s defence and losing it could cause the entire frontline to crumble.

Capturing Pokrovsk would allow Moscow to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines along the eastern front and boost its campaign to capture the city of Chasiv Yar, which sits on higher ground – offering potential control of a wider area.