Russian troops are making a concerted push in eastern Ukraine and have gained a foothold in the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
Moscow's soldiers outnumber Kyiv's 8-1 in the area and Ukraine cannot match that, Zelensky added while insisting Russia had not yet achieved the planned result.
Russia has been trying to capture Pokrovsk for two years. The key supply and transport hub provides supplies and reinforcements to the eastern front - and it would get Moscow closer to occupying the entirety of the Donetsk region.
It would also put towns of the heavily fortified fortress belt - Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka - within easier reach of Moscow.
Zelensky said drone imagery showed that around 200 Russian soldiers were inside Pokrovsk.
Describing the situation as difficult, he noted that there was widespread fierce fighting and sabotage groups had entered the town. However, he rejected reports from Russia's Chief of General Staff, Gen Valery Gerasimov, that Ukrainian troops had been completely surrounded.
According to an update from Tuesday, Russia's defense ministry claimed to have encircled Ukrainian troops around the main railway station and cleared the city's Troyanda district of Ukrainian forces.
One Ukrainian soldier dismissed the idea of encirclement, suggesting that the conflict's technology-driven nature has shifted traditional battlefield dynamics. Drone technology, combined with inclement weather, adds further complexity to operations on the ground.
Since Monday, Ukrainian forces have reportedly repelled a significant number of attacks near Pokrovsk, but the sheer concentration of Russian troops poses an ongoing challenge.
The current offensives illustrate the high stakes involved in contesting territory, with reports of street battles and the utilization of drones on both sides to engage enemy forces.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has emphasized the urgent need for financial support from European allies as Kyiv's defense capabilities continue to shrink amidst prolonged conflict. With Moscow holding about 20% of Ukrainian territory, the situation remains precarious as Zelensky calls for stable backing to sustain Ukraine's resistance.
