The Ukrainian army still controls the northern part of the strategic town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, military units fighting in the town told Reuters today, BTA reported.
Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Airborne Forces said it had carried out attacks in the southern part of the town, where Russian forces predominate. The Ukrainian military statement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his commanders on what he said was the "complete capture of Pokrovsk by Russian troops."
Military commanders have reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces have captured the frontline Ukrainian towns of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk and are advancing in other areas of Ukraine, Reuters reported earlier.
Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in Donetsk region, has been under Russian offensive for months. Gerasimov told Putin that Russian forces are determined to capture the entire Donbas, a region that includes Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the capture of Pokrovsk would allow Russian forces to continue their offensive in Ukraine. "This is an important area. We all understand how important it is. "It will guarantee solutions to achieve the goals that we initially set at the beginning of the special military operation," Putin said.