Ukrainian forces are facing mounting pressure as Russian troops intensify their assault on the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub in the Donetsk region. According to Ukraine’s 7th Corps, Moscow has deployed around 11,000 soldiers in a large-scale attempt to encircle the city and nearby areas. Ukrainian officials report that Russian units already inside Pokrovsk are pushing north and northwest, escalating fierce urban combat.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described Pokrovsk as “the most difficult” area along Ukraine’s 1,250-kilometer front line, noting that it remains the focal point of Russia’s concentrated offensive. After a briefing with Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskiy confirmed that while the situation in Kupiansk remains tense, Ukrainian forces have regained some control in recent days. He also stated that around 200 Russian troops are currently positioned in various parts of Pokrovsk, underscoring the city’s strategic significance for Moscow’s campaign in Donbas.
Open-source group DeepState reported that Russian forces disrupted a key supply route to the neighboring city of Myrnohrad through drone strikes and infantry ambushes. The group warned that Ukraine would need to deploy a full brigade to prevent further Russian infiltration. “The situation in Pokrovsk is on the verge of critical,” DeepState cautioned, sharing footage of Ukrainian troops taking down a Russian flag briefly raised at the city’s gates.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukrainian forces were surrounded in Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, a statement Kyiv dismissed as “fantasy.” Ukraine’s military emphasized that supply lines remain intact and the city has not been encircled.
Zelenskiy argued that Russia’s prolonged offensive demonstrates its inability to achieve full control over Donbas, saying Ukraine’s resistance in Pokrovsk proves Moscow’s campaign is faltering.