Source: Aljazeera

DST News: Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk as Russian troops intensify their offensive to seize control of the strategic Donetsk region hub, according to the country’s top military commander.

“Pokrovsk remains under our control,” said Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskii in a statement on Saturday. “We are conducting a comprehensive operation to destroy and drive out Russian forces from the area.”

Often referred to as the “gateway to Donetsk,” Pokrovsk has been a key target of Russia’s campaign to occupy the entire Donetsk region since mid-2024. The city, once home to more than 60,000 residents, serves as a critical supply route for Ukrainian forces on the eastern front.

If captured, Pokrovsk would mark Russia’s most significant territorial gain since its takeover of Avdiivka in early 2024 following months of fierce fighting.

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed on Saturday that its troops had defeated Ukrainian special forces in the city and released videos allegedly showing two captured Ukrainian soldiers describing heavy combat and encirclement. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently confirmed, and Kyiv has not publicly responded to the claim.

President Vladimir Putin recently asserted that Russian forces had surrounded Pokrovsk’s defenders, but Ukrainian officials rejected that statement. Syrskii described the situation as “extremely difficult” yet insisted there was “no encirclement or blockade” as Russia had claimed. “The main effort now lies with our UAV operators and assault units,” he added.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that some Russian units had entered parts of the city but said Ukrainian troops were actively pushing them back.

Military analysts note that seizing Pokrovsk and nearby Kostiantynivka would enable Moscow to advance north toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the last major Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk.