The commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces has warned Russian activity is increasing around the key frontline town of Pokrovsk, saying the situation is difficult.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi admitted Russian infantry was massing in the area and said he had visited the frontline himself for talks with key commanders.
But he emphasized that reports claiming Ukrainian troops had been blockaded by Russian forces were untrue propaganda.
There have been growing reports of Russian advances around the strategic town in the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. It forms a key transport and supply hub, and its capture could enable Russian efforts to seize the rest of the region.
In a statement on Telegram, General Syrskyi remarked: In Pokrovsk, enemy infantry, avoiding combat, is amassing in the urban area and changing locations, so the primary objective is to identify and destroy them.
He added that the situation is difficult, but Russian propaganda claims about the alleged 'blockade' of the Ukrainian Defence Forces in Pokrovsk, as well as in Kupiansk, are untrue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said Pokrovsk was the main target for Russia, indicating that Russian forces there outnumber Ukrainians by eight to one.
The fight for Pokrovsk has escalated significantly, with Russian forces intensifying efforts to infiltrate the city and encircle Ukrainian defenders.
Recently, the defense intelligence firm, Sybelline, highlighted that the battle for Pokrovsk had entered a highly dynamic and intense phase. Deepstate, a Ukrainian monitoring group, indicated that Russian forces were gradually engulfing Pokrovsk due to their substantial numbers. Concerns have mounted as military experts assert that the precarious situation may soon reach a crisis point for Ukrainian defenders.
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