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 said reports that Ukrainian troops had been blockaded there by Russian forces was 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 unlock Russian efforts to seize the rest of the region.
In a statement on Telegram, General Syrskyi stated: 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 emphasized, 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.
Syrskyi noted the need for commanders to maintain balance between military goals and capabilities, adding, The main priority is preserving the lives of our soldiers.
Russian forces have been attempting to seize Pokrovsk for over a year. Capturing it would provide access to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the two largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the region.
Moscow initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier, Russia's chief of general staff, General Valery Gerasimov, claimed that Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk had been surrounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Pokrovsk as the main target for Russia, stating they outnumber Ukrainian defenders by eight to one.
Zelensky explained the Russian motivation, saying, They do not have a result they can 'sell' to the Americans. We understand why they need Pokrovsk. They need it only to claim that Ukraine withdraws from the east and gives everything else they want.
Defence intelligence firm Sybelline has noted that the battle for Pokrovsk has entered a highly dynamic phase, as Russian forces escalate their efforts to infiltrate and encircle the town. Ukrainian monitoring group Deepstate reported that Russian troops are gradually surrounding Pokrovsk and disrupting supply routes.
Deepstate warned that the situation in Pokrovsk is on the brink of crisis and is worsening, posing an urgent challenge to Ukrainian defenses.
