Overview
- Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers report Russian infantry infiltrations and clashes inside the city, with estimates of roughly 200 soldiers entering in recent days.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says defenders face a severe force imbalance of about eight attackers to one defender and describes the situation as difficult.
- The Kremlin’s assertion that more than 5,000 Ukrainians are encircled is challenged by the Institute for the Study of War and Ukrainian military statements, which say a full siege is not confirmed.
- Exit and resupply routes are under intense fire, disrupting evacuations and logistics and heightening risks for the few remaining civilians.
- Vladimir Putin publicly offered temporary pauses for journalist access in the Pokrowsk–Myrnohrad area while portraying the front as blocked, as analysts question the city’s military value and U.S. intelligence assesses he is intent on battlefield gains over diplomacy.