No encirclement of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces hold line – Zelensky

The head of state stated this during a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“The situation in Pokrovsk is difficult. All of their [Russian] forces are concentrated there. You know there are about 170,000 enemy troops in that direction — that’s a lot. I spoke with the Commander-in-Chief this morning — there have been no changes in Pokrovsk. Russians are there, but our troops are destroying them gradually, carefully — because we must also preserve our personnel,” Zelensky said.

He stressed that there is no encirclement of Pokrovsk and that the situation is under control.

Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) chief Vasyl Maliuk added that Russia had claimed it would capture Pokrovsk a year and three months ago, but since then has advanced only seven kilometers.

“And they’ve lost tens of thousands of soldiers killed. I won’t even mention the wounded,” Maliuk said.

Zelensky emphasized that when analyzing the battlefield situation, it is important to look at developments on both sides of the front.

“The Russians dominate with drones and use them to control logistics. But you should understand that we also dominate with drones on our side and block their logistics too. When our guys have to walk 5–10 kilometers because the area is saturated with drones and vehicles can’t reach them — look at the other side. Russians are walking 25–30 kilometers on foot,” he said.

The President stressed that a fierce battle for Pokrovsk is ongoing, as Russia is trying to seize the town at any cost. He noted that the enemy had failed to capture Sumy, Kupiansk, Dobropillia, or Zaporizhzhia.

As reported, over the past 24 hours there were 132 combat engagements on the front line, more than one-third of them in the Pokrovsk sector.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine