Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has visited troops near the town of Pokrovsk, where the fiercest front line battle between Russia and Ukraine is currently taking place. Zelensky posted photos showing him meeting personnel at a command post in the Dobropillya sector, some 20km (12 miles) north of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Kyiv's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on Monday that Ukraine was increasing pressure on the Dobropillya front to force the enemy to disperse its forces and make it impossible to concentrate their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area.
Russia has been trying to seize Pokrovsk - a strategic frontline town and logistic hub - for over a year. Although it has taken them months to approach the town's borders, Russian soldiers have now infiltrated it and on Friday, Zelensky said Russia had amassed 170,000 troops on its outskirts.
Both Ukraine and Russia continue to issue claims and counterclaims on the situation in and around Pokrovsk. Capturing Pokrovsk could give Moscow access to the rest of Donetsk, including the towns Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Kostyantynivka, and Druzhkivka - the so-called fortress belt.
General Syrskiy acknowledged his troops were withstanding the pressure of a multi-thousand enemy grouping but denied they were encircled. Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers claimed 90% of Pokrovsk was under Moscow's control.
On Monday, Zelensky said Russia had had no success in Pokrovsk in recent days but acknowledged that things were not easy for Ukrainian forces in the area. He indicated a third of all frontline clashes were happening in Pokrovsk, while half of all glide bombs used by the Russians were launched at the town. Notably, Zelensky emphasized the importance of defending the region, stating, This is our country, this is our East, and we will certainly do our utmost to keep it Ukrainian.\
Kyiv's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on Monday that Ukraine was increasing pressure on the Dobropillya front to force the enemy to disperse its forces and make it impossible to concentrate their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area.
Russia has been trying to seize Pokrovsk - a strategic frontline town and logistic hub - for over a year. Although it has taken them months to approach the town's borders, Russian soldiers have now infiltrated it and on Friday, Zelensky said Russia had amassed 170,000 troops on its outskirts.
Both Ukraine and Russia continue to issue claims and counterclaims on the situation in and around Pokrovsk. Capturing Pokrovsk could give Moscow access to the rest of Donetsk, including the towns Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Kostyantynivka, and Druzhkivka - the so-called fortress belt.
General Syrskiy acknowledged his troops were withstanding the pressure of a multi-thousand enemy grouping but denied they were encircled. Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers claimed 90% of Pokrovsk was under Moscow's control.
On Monday, Zelensky said Russia had had no success in Pokrovsk in recent days but acknowledged that things were not easy for Ukrainian forces in the area. He indicated a third of all frontline clashes were happening in Pokrovsk, while half of all glide bombs used by the Russians were launched at the town. Notably, Zelensky emphasized the importance of defending the region, stating, This is our country, this is our East, and we will certainly do our utmost to keep it Ukrainian.\
