Overview
- Geolocated video reviewed by Reuters shows Russian soldiers riding motorcycles and clinging to damaged vehicles inside Pokrovsk, though the recording date remains unclear.
- Ukraine’s president called the situation in the city difficult as the General Staff reported 217 clashes in the past day and said defenders blocked 76 assaults toward Pokrovsk.
- The Institute for the Study of War says Russia’s advance has slowed but still assesses that Ukraine is likely to lose the city.
- Kyiv reported very large Russian casualties in daily and cumulative tallies, figures that could not be independently verified.
- Ukraine’s Energoatom bribery probe led to searches, arrests and the removal of former energy minister Herman Haluschtschenko from his duties, while a Russian diplomat reiterated readiness for talks using the Istanbul platform.