Ukraine is taking measures to strengthen the defense of the strategic Pokrovsk transport hub in order to secure one of the main supply and evacuation routes for Ukrainian forces in the area and to clear the city of Russian infantry units that have infiltrated it, said Chief of the Ukrainian General Staff Oleksandr Syrsky, quoted by Reuters, writes BTA.
The general said he had visited the Pokrovsk region to meet with servicemen there, at a time when Russia - almost four years after the start of the invasion of Ukraine - continues to intensify its attacks to capture the city.
He rejected Moscow's claims that its forces have trapped Ukrainian troops in the fortified city.
“Enemy infantry, avoiding fighting, is gathering in built-up areas, changing their location, so the primary task is to find and destroy them“, Syrsky wrote on “Telegram“.
For more than a year, Russia has been slowly and gradually advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region, capturing one small settlement after another south of the city.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian General Staff said that at least 200 Russian servicemen had entered the city, engaging in firefights with Kiev forces.
Ukraine is taking measures to “strengthen resilience of the defense“ of Pokrovsk, said Syrsky, adding that he had separately issued an order to improve the logistical situation in the area by strengthening the defense of supply and evacuation routes.
“The main priority is to protect the lives of our soldiers“, he said.
The supply of the city has been complicated by Russian drone attacks, but “it is possible”, said a post on “Facebook“ of the Ukrainian 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, which is stationed in the area.
The brigade added that Russia has mainly used infantry in its attacks on Pokrovsk, but has also deployed armored vehicles for an advance on Mirnograd, which is located about six kilometers to the northeast.