FT: Russian troops have advanced in Pokrovsk, no full encirclement reported

FT: Russian troops have advanced in Pokrovsk, no full encirclement reported

Russian troops have intensified offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, focusing their efforts on Pokrovsk. After months of slow progress, Russian units have entered parts of the city, while Ukrainian forces are engaged in fierce battles on the approaches and within it.

This was reported by Financial Times.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, claimed that around 5,500 Ukrainian soldiers are allegedly "completely surrounded" near Pokrovsk. However, Kyiv categorically denies these claims.

"Fighting continues on the approaches to the city, sabotage groups are operating inside, and logistics are complicated," Zelenskyy said in an address on Sunday.

The General Staff of Ukraine confirmed that about 200 Russian servicemen have entered the city, where street fighting is ongoing.

Military analyst from the "Information Resistance" group, Kostyantyn Mashovets, commented that there are currently no grounds to speak of a complete encirclement of Ukrainian units. At the same time, he warns: "However, the threat is quite real—the enemy is using small groups that infiltrate the city from the flanks, bypassing the main fortifications."

According to him, Russian infantry groups of 3-5 people are actively moving through the southern part of the city, creating chaos in the defence and avoiding frontal assaults "building by building."