The situation around Pokrovsk remains difficult as Russia is bringing fresh reserves to the area, but Ukraine is continuing an “active defense” strategy, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a Facebook post.
Syrskyi said he made a working trip to the military command bodies conducting operations in the area and heard briefings from commanders.
“The situation remains difficult. The enemy is trying to increase pressure on our defensive positions, redeploying additional reserves here,” the commander-in-chief wrote.
After the briefings, he said he refined tasks for commanders of army corps and units holding the lines in the Pokrovsk sector. Specific steps were set to reinforce defenses and boost the effectiveness of the force.
“Concrete steps have been defined to strengthen the defense, including keeping key logistics routes operating reliably, increasing the effectiveness of firepower, and improving coordination among units,” Syrskyi said.
He added that the Armed Forces of Ukraine remain committed to an active-defense approach.
“This is about improving the operational situation, conducting local operations to push the enemy from certain areas, and creating conditions for subsequent maneuvers by our forces,” the commander-in-chief said, thanking defenders for their resilience and effectiveness in destroying Russian forces.
According to Syrskyi, Russian troops are trying to intensify pressure on Ukrainian Forces in the Pokrovsk sector, moving additional reserves toward the city.
Ukraine’s defense forces there are using an active defense approach that aims to improve the operational situation, conduct local operations to push Russian units from specific areas, and set conditions for further Ukrainian maneuvers.
Syrskyi said he visited the front near Pokrovsk this week, clarified tasks for corps and unit commanders, and agreed on concrete steps to strengthen defenses along this part of the front. Discussions also focused on keeping logistics routes functioning, boosting the effectiveness of Ukrainian fires, and ensuring units have necessary supplies.
In early December, the Kremlin claimed Russian forces had fully captured Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Ukraine’s military denied the claim, saying fighting continues and that Ukrainian troops are holding positions in the northern part of the city. The rough line of contact runs along the railway.
Ukraine’s General Staff said that on December 12, Russian forces mounted 42 attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, all of which were repelled. Fighting took place near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Nikanorivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Myrnohrad and other settlements.
The 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces said about 50% of resupply in the Pokrovsk sector is currently being handled by aerial drones, which are delivering food, fuel, generators and ammunition.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian mechanized assault on Pokrovsk. Columns of Russian troops tried to break through into the northern part of the city.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an unannounced visit to Kupyansk to congratulate troops on gains in the city.
