Ukraine's Military Holds Out in Embattled City of Pokrovsk Amid Russian Advances

Russia's Defense Ministry on Saturday claimed its troops were encircling the city, dubbed "the gateway to Donetsk," after over a year of fighting. However, Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, asserted that his troops were still holding out in Pokrovsk. The city, once home to 70,000 people, has been all but completely destroyed and depopulated. The battle for control of Pokrovsk has been one of the bloodiest of the war, with tens of thousands of soldiers believed to have been killed on both sides.

Key Takeaways:

• Ukraine's military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that his troops were still holding out in the city of Pokrovsk, despite Russia's claims of a pincer movement.
• The city has been largely destroyed and depopulated, with over 70,000 people having left their homes.
• The battle for Pokrovsk has been one of the bloodiest of the war, with tens of thousands of soldiers believed to have been killed on both sides.
• Russia aims to capture the whole of Donetsk province, which Ukraine still controls about 10% of.
• Fighting in the area has been intense, with Ukraine's military saying the situation remains "difficult and dynamic."
• Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its troops had killed all 11 members of a Ukrainian special forces team in Pokrovsk, but a Ukrainian military official denied this and said the operation was continuing.
• The Ukrainian military said it had managed to improve its tactical position in several quarters of the city.
• The battle in the area is significant, as it could indicate Russian forces are close to cutting off Ukrainian supply lines to Pokrovsk.

Statistics:

• Tens of thousands of soldiers are believed to have been killed on both sides in the battle for Pokrovsk.
• The city of Pokrovsk has been home to over 70,000 people before the war, but is now largely depopulated.
• Russia's Defense Ministry claims its troops are in full control of a small southern part of the city.
• Ukraine's military controls about 10% of the Donbas region, which comprises Luhansk and Donetsk provinces.
• The area is approximately 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) in western Donetsk.

Sources:

• Reuters
• Facebook (via Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi)
• Russian Defense Ministry's Zvezda news outlet
• Ukrainian map of the front line (Deepstate)