Donbas under pressure, Putin ramps up offensive - The Financial Times

Media sources indicate that Vladimir Putin has tasked military commanders with taking control of Pokrovsk by mid-November 2025.

Some Russian units have already entered the city, but Ukrainian officials deny reports that their forces have been completely encircled.

The Financial Times notes that until 2024, Pokrovsk played a key role as a transport and logistics hub, and its loss could deal a strategic blow to Ukraine, opening new avenues for enemy advances.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that around 200 Russian troops have indeed entered the city. At the same time, intense clashes are reported along the entire thousand-kilometer front line.

Frontline update: New hotspots emerge

The Ukrainian military reports that heavy fighting continues not only on the outskirts of Pokrovsk but also within the city, where sabotage groups are active. The logistical situation is complicated by ongoing attacks and damaged infrastructure.

The offensive, ongoing for several months, has seen Russian forces slowly advancing toward Lyman and Kostiantynivka. The main focus of the assault is the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration, a major mining center with a pre-war population of around 100,000.

Russian troops are attempting to break through to strategically important roads and target Ukrainian supply lines with drones.

Meanwhile, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, concentrating strikes on facilities in the northeastern regions of Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv. As a result, some settlements have temporarily lost electricity, reflecting Moscow’s apparent aim to destabilize industrial operations and disrupt regional energy supplies.

In related security developments, Lithuania has tightened control over its airspace following a series of unidentified aerial incidents. Acting Defense Minister Vladyslav Kondratovich stated that the measures are intended to prevent potential threats and enhance national security.