Zelenskyy warns of heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, plans drone ramp-up

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Ukrainian forces are engaged in intense battles near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistics center where Russian forces have been steadily advancing and claiming new territory almost daily.

Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of senior officials that the situation around Pokrovsk was the current focal point of its attention in the war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022.

He added that Ukrainian forces are also maintaining operations in the northern Sumy region, where Russian troops have recently gained ground along the border.

Zelenskyy stated that newly-appointed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on continued foreign military aid, which will help sustain the delivery of weapons to Ukrainian troops.

He also announced preparations for a dedicated Technology Staff meeting on drone development. "A plan has been approved to reach production of 500–1,000 interceptor drones per day. The deadline has been set and achieving this is the personal responsibility of every official involved," he said.

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy emphasized that these drones had been particularly effective in intercepting waves of Russian attack drones targeting Ukrainian cities.

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