The Ukrainian army spokesperson Viktor Tregubov claimed that the situation in Pokrovsk remains “stable,” and there are no Russian troops inside the besieged Ukrainian city, despite authorities evacuating children from the area, reports RFE.
“In Pokrovsk, the situation in the city has not changed. It is stable,” Tregubov said, while acknowledging that Russian forces still appear to be attempting to encircle the area. “There are no enemy forces in the city. We must now refute the information published that enemy forces have reached there. This is not true,” he insisted.
Ukrainian soldiers from the 24th Brigade’s air defense unit are conducting drills in the attacked Donetsk region, as of December 14.
Despite the claim of stability, Russian forces have continued to bombard the city, located in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. On January 18, local police helped residents evacuate the city, according to Radio Free Europe correspondents on the ground.
Once home to 60,000 residents, Pokrovsk now has approximately 7,000 residents, according to local authorities.
The situation surrounding this vital logistical center, which has been targeted by Russian forces in recent months, remains unclear. Both sides are reported to have suffered significant losses, although neither military has disclosed the number of casualties.
Russian forces have been positioned near Pokrovsk for several weeks, with some observers suggesting that the Kremlin may choose to avoid fighting in the city and instead continue advancing to seize other areas of Ukraine.
On January 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that its troops had taken control of the Ukrainian town of Kurakhove, located about 30 kilometers south of Pokrovsk.
On January 18, the ministry announced that Russian forces had also taken control of two settlements in the region: Petropavlivka, situated between Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, and Vremivka.
If Russian forces capture Pokrovsk, it would be a significant victory for the Kremlin, as the fighting has turned much of the city into ruins.
Tregubov stated that “the enemy is trying to stay south of Pokrovsk in order to advance southwest of the settlement and cut off supply routes used for logistics.”
“Fighting continues in the settlements south of Pokrovsk… there are ongoing efforts from the enemy to make this area a base and advance. The Russians are currently far from achieving this goal, but they are trying,” he said.
The Institute for the Study of War, based in the U.S., in its latest update on the war in Ukraine, stated that “Russian forces have recently advanced towards Pokrovsk and continue their offensives on January 17.”
