Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian data show 314 Russian soldiers inside Pokrovsk as forces work to root out infiltrators.
- Moscow claims its troops have surrounded the city, seized dozens of buildings and caused 1,460 Ukrainian losses in a week, assertions Kyiv disputes while denying a blockade.
- Ukrainian commanders report no clear defensive line, with one estimating Russia controls over 70% of the city, and analysts say the fall could come within weeks or months.
- The Institute for the Study of War and other experts note Pokrovsk’s logistical value has diminished, casting the fight as largely symbolic even as casualties mount on both sides.
- Local authorities say roughly 1,200 civilians remain with evacuations constrained, and separate Russian strikes on energy infrastructure triggered emergency blackouts in multiple regions.