Overview
- Ukrainian military sources said troops were inserted by Black Hawk helicopter to reinforce contested sectors complicated by Russian drone activity, and video seen by Reuters showing at least 10 soldiers disembarking could not be independently verified.
- One source said the operation was directed by intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and focused on areas tied to Ukrainian supply routes.
- The Ukrainian military reported that at least 200 Russian troops have penetrated the city's defenses and entered Pokrovsk.
- Kyiv’s army chief described the situation as difficult and called for stronger defenses and safeguarded supply lines.
- Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps reported roughly 11,000 Russian troops positioned to encircle the area, Russia claimed Ukrainian forces there were surrounded, and the DeepState project assessed that at least half the city remains contested.