Ukrainian troops have strengthened their tactical positions in the besieged city of Pokrovsk, while the situation in the Donetsk region remains tense. Kiev denies claims of encirclement.
Ukrainian soldiers strengthened their tactical positions in some parts of the besieged city of Pokrovsk, into which Russian troops penetrated. It was announced on Saturday, according to the Reuters agency, by the Ukrainian army, saying that the situation in the city in the Donetsk region remains complex and dynamic. The Russian Defense Ministry earlier said that Ukrainian soldiers in Pokrovsk were beginning to surrender. The Reuters agency pointed out that it could not independently verify the news from the battlefield, reports TASR.
In a post on the Telegram platform, the supreme commander of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrskyi, again denied Russia’s claims about the encirclement or blockade of Pokrovsk and nearby Myrnohrad. According to him, the situation in this direction is currently the most complex, and an operation is underway to destroy and dislodge the Russian forces.
Kyiv denies Moscow’s statements
“The enemy in Pokrovsk is paying the highest price for trying to fulfill the role of a dictator from the Kremlin to occupy the Ukrainian Donbas. We continue to liberate and clear the territory around the city of Dobropilľa. Pokrovsk – we hold. Myrnohrad – we hold,” wrote Syrskyj, who visited the area. According to the Ukrainian army’s 7th rapid reaction corps, which defends Pokrovsk, Ukraine is increasing the number of its troops there, and troops are also trying to cut off the Russian army’s logistical routes.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced Saturday morning, according to the TASS agency, that its forces foiled an attempt by Ukrainian special forces to land a helicopter near Pokrovskoe and that all 11 soldiers on board were killed. Kiev immediately denied it, according to him the landing took place northwest of the city and the operation aimed at stabilizing the area is still ongoing – despite Moscow’s claims of surrender.
According to the DeepState interactive map, which monitors the situation on the battlefield and whose creators have ties to the military, Russian troops are in full control of a small southern part of Pokrovskoe, while most of the rest of it is shown as a gray zone not controlled by either of the warring parties.
Pokrovsk is a key road and railway hub in the Donetsk region. Russian forces have been slowly advancing on the city in eastern Ukraine for more than a year. The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said last week that around 200 Russian soldiers had managed to bypass Ukrainian defenses and infiltrate Pokrovskoe.
