Name: Ukraine locked in a fierce battle to hold the ruined city of Pokrovsk
Uploaded: 2025-11-08T11:43:53.339Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: Ukraine denied Moscow’s claims that its soldiers are encircled by Russian forces in Pokrovsk, a city located in the heart of the Donbas mining basin and the epicentre of fighting in the East.

Ukraine denied Moscow’s claims that its soldiers are encircled by Russian forces in Pokrovsk, a city located in the heart of the Donbas mining basin and the epicentre of fighting in the East.

Pokrovsk

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukrainian troops are locked in a fierce battle to retain control of Pokrovsk, a strategic city in the Donetsk region that has been targeted by Russian forces for over a year. While Moscow claims its soldiers have encircled the city, Ukrainian officials have rejected this assertion and continue to defend the area, which previously served as a crucial military logistics hub.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the situation as difficult, with Russian assaults ongoing since November 5 and involving armored vehicles. Experts note that even if Russia captures Pokrovsk, Ukrainian strongholds in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk remain vital for the defense of the region. The status of Donetsk remains disputed, with Russia claiming legal ownership and Ukraine, backed by Western nations, rejecting this claim.

Ukraine locked in a fierce battle to hold the ruined city of Pokrovsk

Here, in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, most citizens have fled. Moscow said its soldiers have encircled the city, a claim rejected by Ukraine Wednesday, as the fierce battle for Pokrovsk continues. Located in the Donetsk region, mostly occupied by Russia, Moscow's aimed to take control of the strategic city for a year and a half. However, Ukraine's soldiers insist they will keep fighting to maintain their hold in the Donbass. If we give territory to Russia now in six months or a year, they will gather more strength and advance further into Ukraine. These barbarians will not stop until they're stopped by force. Pokrovsk, which had a population of 60,000 before the war, is part of Ukraine's fortress belt of Donetsk, and previously served as a crucial military logistics hub. Russia has been trying to break through this belt, seeing the city as a key point through which it can take control of the rest of the Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the battle for the city at a briefing Friday. In Pokrovsk, the situation is difficult. The enemy began assault operations on November 5 and has continued conducting assaults since, using armored vehicles. They have lost equipment, but the enemy's number one goal is to occupy Pokrovsk as quickly as possible. Although many see the fight for Pokrovsk as a metric for the future of the war, experts note that taking the city would not guarantee Russia total control of the region, as long as Ukraine maintains its strongholds in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. I think Slovyansk, Kramatorsk is really still the most kind of vital, important part of Donetsk Oblast for Ukraine to defend. It is still really the center for command and control, for logistics, and for holding much of the front line, it kind of operates in these two cities. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the Donetsk region is now legally part of Russia, while Ukraine and the West say Russia took the region in an illegal land grab.

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Ukraine locked in a fierce battle to hold the ruined city of Pokrovsk

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Ukraine Invasion