Russia Says Its Forces Are 4 km From Sloviansk, Key Ukrainian Stronghold

Russia's most senior military officer has stated that Russian forces are now just four kilometres from the eastern outskirts of Sloviansk, a strategically important Ukrainian city that Moscow has long sought to capture.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia's General Staff, made the remarks in a video released by the Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday. The video did not provide visual evidence of the troop positions, and the claim could not be independently verified.

Sloviansk has been a focal point of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin having made clear that Moscow intends to take control of the city. Its capture would be a significant step in Russia's broader military campaign in the Donbas region.

Gerasimov's statement marks one of the closest reported approaches to Sloviansk by Russian forces, though battlefield reports from both sides have often been difficult to confirm. The situation on the ground remains fluid, and independent verification of frontline positions is limited.