The commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces has warned Russian activity is increasing around the key frontline town of Pokrovsk, saying the situation is difficult.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi admitted Russian infantry was massing in the area and said he had visited the frontline himself for talks with key commanders.
But he said reports that Ukrainian troops had been blockaded there by Russian forces was untrue propaganda.
There have been growing reports of Russian advances around the strategic town in the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. It forms a key transport and supply hub and its capture could unlock Russian efforts to seize the rest of the region.
In a statement on Telegram, General Syrskyi stated: In Pokrovsk, enemy infantry, avoiding combat, is amassing in the urban area and changing locations, so the primary objective is to identify and destroy them. He added: The situation is difficult, but Russian propaganda claims about the alleged 'blockade' of the Ukrainian Defence Forces in Pokrovsk, as well as in Kupiansk, are untrue.
He noted that commanders must maintain a reasonable balance between goals and capabilities. The main priority is preserving the lives of our soldiers, he added.
Russian forces have been attempting to take Pokrovsk for over a year. Capturing it could pave their way towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the two largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the region.
Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Earlier this week, Russia's chief of general staff, Gen Valery Gerasimov, claimed Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk had been surrounded. President Zelensky indicated that Pokrovsk was the main target for Russia, stating that the odds were heavily stacked against Ukrainian defenders, with Russian forces outnumbering them by eight to one.
Zelensky articulated that Russia's interest in Pokrovsk is driven by a need to convey a narrative of Ukrainian withdrawal to the United States and other allies. They need it only to claim that Ukraine withdraws from the east and gives everything else they want, he asserted.
In its latest analysis, defense intelligence firm Sybelline stated that the battle for Pokrovsk has entered a highly dynamic phase as Russian forces ramp up efforts to infiltrate the city and surround Ukrainian defenders.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian monitoring group Deepstate reported that Russian troops are gradually engulfing Pokrovsk with their substantial numbers, descending deeper into the town and disrupting Ukrainian supply lines.
The situation in Pokrovsk is on the brink of crisis and continues to deteriorate, potentially reaching a point of no return, the group concluded.
