In mid-December, the independent Russian portal Medusa reported that invasive forces entered the Kurachov center. According to the portal, citing a recording posted by 1 of the Russian military bloggers, the flag of Russia hung on the building of the city authorities. On December 6, the Ukrainian DeepState task alerted that Russian troops were strengthening around Kurachov. The Russians were to capture 4 villages close the town at the end of last year and dangerously approach this resort.