Russian Troops Reported Inside Pokrovsk As Ukraine Says Forces Hold City's Defenses

"Zelenskyy, in his October 26 nightly video address, said Russia had concentrated large numbers of forces around Pokrovsk and the nearby Myrnohrad community in the long-fought-over area in eastern Ukraine. "It is there, near Pokrovsk, that the Russians have concentrated their main strike force -- a significant number of enemy troops," Zelenskyy said. "Of course, this creates a difficult situation in Pokrovsk and all nearby areas -- fierce battles in the city and on its outskirts. There are enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups in the city.""

"Pokrovsk, a city of about 7,000 inhabitants -- down from more than 60,000 prewar -- holds crucial road and rail junctions and has been under threat of encirclement by Russian forces for most of the year. In early October, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian troops had entered the city, but Ukrainian officials at the time denied the report and said Kremlin forces continued to suffer heavy losses in the region."

Russian ground forces have entered the strategic city of Pokrovsk, with fierce fighting reported in and around the city. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said large numbers of Russian troops concentrated around Pokrovsk and the nearby Myrnohrad community, and that enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups are operating inside the city. Ukrainian forces are holding main defensive lines despite intense pressure. Pokrovsk, whose population has fallen from over 60,000 prewar to about 7,000, controls key road and rail junctions and has been under threat of encirclement for much of the year. Ukraine’s General Staff reported about 200 small Russian infantry units penetrated defenses and established positions, and Ukrainian strikes inside Russia injured civilians in Belgorod.

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