Update(1710ET): Russia finally and formally announced Monday its forces have captured the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, the long fought-over strategic military logistics hub, as well as the city of Vovchansk in the northeast.

The capture of Pokrovsk has long been seen as inevitable, after starting weeks ago Russian troops were filmed patrolling freely and casually in a southern district of the city which had a pre-war population of 60,000.

Russia's military chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, on Sunday had "informed [President] Vladimir Putin of the liberation of the cities of Krasnoarmeysk and Vovchansk," according to the Kremlin statement first released on Telegram Monday. Krasnoarmeysk is the Russian name for Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk has long been seen as military gateway for control over the whole east, and if there were any doubts about Russia's military dominance along the frontlines - the overrunning of Pokrovsk has laid these doubts to rest. Russian media is in a celebratory mood...