Ukraine’s top commander has acknowledged that his troops are under immense pressure defending the front-line town of Pokrovsk, where Russian forces are pushing hard to gain control.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi described the situation as “difficult,” saying Ukrainian soldiers are facing a large Russian force, but he denied claims that they are surrounded. Elite special forces have been sent to protect key supply routes, which remain under heavy fire.
Appearing in a short video from the Donetsk region, Syrskyi was seen reviewing battlefield maps alongside other top officials, including military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. The move signals Kyiv’s determination to hold on to Pokrovsk — a town Russia has been trying to capture for more than a year.
Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps said troops have made small tactical improvements in the area, though the battle remains intense and unpredictable. President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that defending Pokrovsk is a national priority.
Pokrovsk is a vital transport and supply hub in eastern Ukraine. If Russia captures it, analysts believe it could pave the way for control of the rest of the Donetsk region. Moscow currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Ukraine also fears that losing Pokrovsk could give Russia a propaganda victory, bolstering its claims of progress and pressuring Western countries to accept its terms.
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions remain high. The U.S. recently imposed new sanctions on Russian oil giants and canceled a planned summit between Presidents Trump and Putin. Although Zelensky supports a ceasefire along current front lines, Putin continues to demand sweeping concessions from Ukraine — conditions Kyiv and its allies have rejected.