Russia has destroyed about 80% of critical infrastructure in Pokrovsk, which is a key logistics hub in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops are advancing towards the city, Reuters reported, citing a representative of the local authorities.
The head of the Pokrov city military administration, Serhiy Dobryak, said that Russian forces are located about 7 kilometers from the city, which is a road and railway junction, making it an important logistics point for the Ukrainian army as well as civilians in Donetsk region.
Russian forces have focused some of their heaviest attacks in recent weeks on the Pokrov direction, which could allow them to consolidate and advance along the front lines in the region.
"The enemy leaves us without electricity, without water, without gas. It prepares us for the winter, so to speak," Dobryak said.
About 13,050 residents remain in Pokrovsk, where authorities have been evacuating civilians for weeks.
Dobryak drew attention to the fact that only a month and a half ago there were about 48,000 people in the city.
Russia continued to shell Pokrovsk yesterday, dropping a total of nine bombs and wounding four people in two attacks that damaged infrastructure.
Dobryak said daily attacks target energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. Almost half of Pokrovsk, 10 nearby villages and a smaller town are without electricity, he said, adding that it is "almost impossible" the energy infrastructure to be repaired.
Russia denies attacking civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, Reuters recalls.
Nearly 31 months after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian forces are on the defensive and this week were ordered to withdraw from Ugledar, another town in eastern Donetsk Oblast.
At the same time, the authorities in Kiev ordered the defense of the eastern front to be strengthened.