Russian forces have gained a foothold in the key eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk after intensifying assaults in the region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday, describing the situation as “difficult” but insisting that Russia has not achieved its full objectives.
Zelensky said Russian troops outnumber Ukrainian forces eight to one in the area, as Moscow pushes to seize one of the most strategic hubs in the Donetsk region. “They have not achieved the planned result,” he said, but confirmed that drone surveillance showed about 200 Russian soldiers operating within Pokrovsk’s limits.
Pokrovsk, a vital logistics and transport hub, has been under Russian assault for nearly two years. Its capture would allow Moscow to cut off Ukrainian supply routes to the eastern front and move closer to controlling the entirety of Donetsk. It would also bring the heavily fortified “fortress belt” cities — Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka — within easier striking distance of Russian forces.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its troops had encircled Ukrainian defenders near the town’s main railway station and cleared the Troyanda district of resistance. Zelensky, however, rejected claims by Russia’s Chief of General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, that Ukrainian troops had been completely surrounded.
“There is fierce, widespread fighting and sabotage groups have entered the town,” Zelensky said, while Ukrainian officials confirmed that heavy clashes were ongoing in urban areas. Capt. Hryhoriy Shapoval, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Operational Group, reported that 79 Russian attacks near Pokrovsk had been repelled since Monday — nearly one-third of all 218 recorded assaults along the front line.
Shapoval said Moscow had concentrated large numbers of troops and armored vehicles in the area, making the defense effort increasingly difficult. “They are using armor to shield their infantry. It’s hard to stop them,” he said, adding that fog and rain have limited Ukrainian drone visibility, reducing their ability to target Russian advances.
A Ukrainian soldier from the 155th Brigade, Artem Pribylnov, told local media that while Pokrovsk was not yet encircled, Russia’s use of drones made movement extremely risky. “Perhaps that’s why Russians claim they’ve encircled Pokrovsk even if there is no physical encirclement,” he suggested.
Street battles have been reported in recent days, with both sides relying heavily on drone warfare. Outside urban centers, drones are striking deep behind enemy lines, reflecting how technology continues to reshape the battlefield.
Russia’s full-scale invasion, now nearing its fifth year, has left Moscow in control of roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. With manpower and resources dwindling, Zelensky has renewed his appeal for European financial support, saying Ukraine’s defense effort could collapse within “two or three years” without sustained aid.
At an EU summit last week, European leaders failed to approve a proposal to redirect €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine after Belgium blocked the measure. The issue will be revisited in December. Zelensky urged Europe to act decisively, saying, “We are not going to fight for decades, but you must show that you can provide stable financial support.”
The Ukrainian president also expressed hope that an upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping could reduce Beijing’s support for Moscow. Trump recently imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft, calling on Turkey and China to halt purchases of Russian oil. “This may be one of President Trump’s strong moves,” Zelensky said, “especially if China is ready to reduce imports from Russia.”
A bbc story
