Zelensky Prioritizes Defense of Donbas Town as Special Forces Mobilized

Sat Nov 01 2025 22:53:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserts that the defense of Pokrovsk is critical amid reports of Russian advances in the Donbas region. Special forces are deployed to protect strategic supply lines as tensions escalate.

As Russian forces intensify their efforts around the strategic town of Pokrovsk in Donbas, Ukrainian President Zelensky has declared defense of the area a priority. Special forces have been mobilized to bolster the defense and safeguard supply lines. Reports indicate that while Ukraine's military is not encircled, their positions are under heavy fire. Local military leadership emphasizes the critical nature of holding Pokrovsk to thwart Russian advances in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated the defense of Pokrovsk is a priority as elite special forces are deployed to the embattled town on the eastern front line.

Ukrainian army sources told the BBC that special forces from military intelligence and assault groups are being used as regular infantry to protect supply lines to troops holding the town in the Donbas region.

There have been increasing reports of Russian advances around the strategic town, located to the west of Donetsk, with Ukraine denying claims of being surrounded.

Moscow has pushed for Kyiv to concede the entire Donbas region as part of any peace deal, including sections it does not currently control.

As it stands, Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.

The deployment of special forces indicates that officials in Kyiv aim to retain control over Pokrovsk, a target of Russian efforts for over a year.

Local media report that the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, has visited the region to oversee the operation personally.

Pokrovsk serves as a key transport and supply hub, and its capture could ease Russian plans to take further territory.

Kyiv also believes that the loss of Pokrovsk would aid Russia's justification for its military actions to the U.S., aiming to demonstrate success and pressure the West for concessions.

Despite growing frustration within Washington regarding stalled peace talks, indicated by recent sanctions imposed on Moscow, Zelensky has signaled openness to ceasefire proposals.

In his latest address, Zelensky reaffirmed, Pokrovsk is our priority. We continue to destroy the occupier... They must be halted where they have reached—and destroyed there.

Images shared with news outlets depict a Ukrainian Black Hawk helicopter deploying troops near Pokrovsk, though the timing and location remains unverified.

The situation in Pokrovsk remains complex, with estimates indicating that around half of the area is a grey zone lacking full control from either side.