Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has issued a stark warning about the intensifying battlefield conditions around the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. Labeling the area as one of the most contested segments of the ongoing war, Zelenskiy revealed that Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi had identified Pokrovsk and five other frontline sectors as scenes of extremely heavy combat, underscoring the relentless pressure from advancing Russian forces.
The latest military developments indicate that Moscow is ramping up its offensive to secure critical transport nodes in eastern Ukraine. Russia recently claimed to have captured several small settlements around Pokrovsk specifically Zvirove, Novoekonomichne, and Novotoretske. However, Ukrainian authorities have refuted these assertions, clarifying that fierce battles are still underway in at least two of those locations. Kyiv’s military command has maintained that these villages remain active conflict zones, with Ukrainian defenders repelling enemy advances.
Once home to nearly 60,000 residents, Pokrovsk has now been nearly depopulated, its streets largely emptied due to relentless shelling and proximity to the front. The city’s strategic importance lies not only in its rail and road networks that support Ukraine's eastern logistics but also in the presence of the country’s last functioning coking coal mine vital for steel production. This mine, however, has ceased operations due to the war.
Despite some localized Russian gains, Zelenskiy insisted that Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He reported that Russian units, often in small reconnaissance groups of two to twelve men, attempted to breach Ukrainian lines multiple times near Pokrovsk. “Every such group was neutralized,” the president affirmed, highlighting the resilience of Ukrainian troops stationed in the area.
Beyond Pokrovsk, the northern Sumy region is also witnessing an escalation in hostilities. Russian forces there are trying to establish what the Kremlin refers to as a "buffer zone" along the border. A pro-Ukrainian military monitoring group, DeepState, claimed that Ukrainian forces had regained control of Kindrativka village in the same region. However, no official confirmation has yet come from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Commander Syrskyi, addressing the overall condition of the war, described Russia’s summer offensive as costly but determined. He noted that despite high casualties on the Russian side, the sheer volume of assaults poses a constant threat to Ukraine’s defense structure. Pokrovsk, in particular, remains a pressure point where the balance could shift swiftly without sustained reinforcement and resources.
In response to the growing demands on Ukraine’s defenses, Zelenskiy announced that the country has secured funding for three new Patriot missile defense systems from allies including Germany and Norway. He also appealed for financial and material assistance to procure seven additional systems. The president emphasized that enhancing Ukraine's air and missile defenses is critical as Russian missile and drone strikes continue to endanger both military and civilian infrastructure.
Zelenskiy's latest address reflects a grim yet determined assessment of the war’s current phase. The battles raging near Pokrovsk are emblematic of a broader Russian strategy aimed at grinding down Ukrainian resistance by targeting critical logistics and urban nodes. Ukraine’s leadership has made clear that while the situation is extremely challenging, their defense lines remain intact for now. However, sustaining this resistance will heavily depend on timely international support and unrelenting domestic fortitude.