Russian troops are probably on their way to completing the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, after almost two years of attempts and heavy fighting, CNN reports, quoted by Focus. According to the television, fighting in the city has sharply intensified in recent days, after Russian units broke through Ukrainian defenses and entered the city itself.
Moscow has already claimed that Pokrovsk is "in operational encirclement", but Kiev denies this and says that active fighting continues. One Ukrainian commander, quoted by CNN, described the situation as "very difficult":
"The situation is complicated, there are ongoing skirmishes in urban areas and shelling from all types of weapons. We are almost surrounded, but we are used to it", he said.
A fighter from a reconnaissance unit added that Russian forces were attacking in small groups, counting on some of them to break through Ukrainian lines: "Their pace of movement is so high that drone operators simply cannot monitor all directions of the attacks", he said.
Analysts, quoted by CNN, noted that Pokrovsk has long lost its logistical role as a transport hub - the main roads and railways have been destroyed. Nevertheless, the city has acquired symbolic significance for the Kremlin.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly mentioned Pokrovsk in the context of the "liberation of Donbas", making its capture a matter of prestige and a domestic political signal in Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that about 170,000 Russian soldiers are concentrated in the area of the city - one of the largest offensives since the beginning of the year.
Ukrainian defenders admit that the situation is critical. One of the fighters says that there is still no order to retreat, although the likelihood of holding the city is decreasing: "We held Pokrovsk for a very long time. But the forces are exhausted, and reinforcements did not arrive in time."
The soldiers fear that an attempt to hold the city at all costs could repeat the tragedies in Bakhmut and Avdeevka, when a delayed withdrawal led to heavy losses.
Pokrovsk had about 60,000 inhabitants before the war, but today it is almost completely destroyed. According to local authorities, about 1,200 civilians remain in the city, most of whom cannot be evacuated.
The German television ZDF also notes that the battle is entering its final phase, with the Russian army using new tactics - positioning itself in the ruins of buildings and attacks from cover, which makes it difficult for Ukrainian drones to work.
Analyst Michael Clarke estimates Ukraine's chances of holding the city as "about 50 to 50", but emphasizes that Russian numerical superiority gives Moscow the advantage of advancing slowly, in small groups, and consolidating positions in separate areas of the city.