Zelenskyy denies encirclement of Pokrovsk, says Ukrainian forces holding ground

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday dismissed reports that Russian forces had encircled Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, insisting that Ukrainian troops remain in control of the situation.

“The situation in Pokrovsk is difficult. All their forces are there. This morning, I spoke with the commander-in-chief — there are no changes in Pokrovsk. There are Russians in the city. Ours are destroying them, destroying them little by little — because we also need to protect the personnel,” Zelenskyy said during a briefing, as quoted by the state-run Ukrinform news agency.

He said Russian troops are being pushed back gradually and stressed that there is no encirclement, adding that Ukrainian defence units continue to hold their positions.

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) head Vasyl Malyuk recalled that Russia had claimed to capture Pokrovsk more than a year ago but has since advanced only about seven kilometres.

Zelenskyy also said that both sides are relying heavily on drones for reconnaissance and logistics. “They dominate with drones and control logistics with drones. But we also dominate with drones on the other side and block their logistics,” he said.

The battle for Pokrovsk has become one of the fiercest along the front line, with Moscow attempting to seize the strategic transport hub to strengthen its hold on the Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials reported 132 clashes across the front in the past day, more than a third of them in the Pokrovsk direction.

Russian forces have intensified attacks in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions in recent weeks as part of a broader push to gain ground before winter conditions slow operations. However, Ukraine’s military says its defensive lines remain intact despite mounting pressure.

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