There is no talk of Russian control over Pokrovsk or encirclement of Defense Forces - Army chief
Photo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi (t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua)
Ukrainian forces continue to hold the defense of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Currently, there is no talk of Russian troops controlling the city or of the Ukrainian Defense Forces being operationally encircled, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi noted that stabilizing the situation in the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad operational area depends on the level of coordination and coherence among military command bodies, units, and subunits involved in combat operations.
"To this end, I made a trip to the Pokrovsk direction. Together with commanders, we focused on the results of previously assigned tasks and planned further actions," the Commander-in-Chief said.
According to him, the Pokrovsk direction remains the main focus in terms of the enemy’s offensive. This is where the highest number of daily enemy assault actions is recorded, and a significant part of its formation operating in Ukraine is concentrated.
The enemy, in particular, is trying to take advantage of difficult weather conditions.
"Our main tasks remain the gradual control of designated areas, support and protection of existing logistical routes, as well as organizing additional ones to ensure the timely supply of our defenders with everything necessary and uninterrupted evacuation of the wounded," Syrskyi said.
He added that on the approaches to the city and directly within urban areas, constant fighting continues against small enemy assault infantry groups, and less frequently, against light enemy equipment.
The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are doing everything possible to prevent enemy movement and consolidation.
According to Syrskyi, the search for and elimination of the enemy also continues in the adjacent Ocheretyne direction. Over the past seven days, as a result of search-and-strike operations, 7.4 sq. km of the Pokrovsk district in the Donetsk region have been cleared of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
"There is no talk of Russian control over the city of Pokrovsk or operational encirclement of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ formation," the Commander-in-Chief stressed.
Fighting for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad
The epicenter of the fighting in the Donetsk region remains the Pokrovsk direction. Russian forces are attempting to encircle Pokrovsk from several directions and are sending additional troops there for this purpose.
The Russian army took advantage of adverse weather conditions, including dense fog, and infiltrated Pokrovsk. Currently, there are over 300 enemy combatants in the city.
Recently, Major Andriy Kovalov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told RBC-Ukraine that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are confidently holding their positions and destroying Russian troops on the approaches to Myrnohrad and within the urban areas of Pokrovsk.
A few days ago, Russian forces launched a massive assault on Pokrovsk along the Selidove–Pokrovsk highway using light equipment. The attack met with partial success.
