According to local authorities, more than a third of Pokrovsk’s residents remain in the city despite calls for evacuation.
The unexpected Ukrainian incursion into the Russian Kursk region last month raised national morale. However, last week, he Kremlin responded with a series of intense missile attacks and the Ukrainian army is now fighting in key areas on the home front.
In eastern Ukraine, troops are digging in to defend the city of Pokrovskof strategic importance, with the front line now just eight kilometers away. Local authorities are urging evacuation, but more than a third of the population remains in their homes in the city.
Russia announces the occupation of another Ukrainian village
But some Pokrovsk residents have seen such a risk that they have been forced to leave loved ones behindlike Andrej and Tatjana, who said: “We say goodbye to our children. Yes, our children and grandchildren.”
To counter Russia’s advances, the president Volodímir Zelenski emphasized the urgent need for assistance of Ukraine’s allies to counter Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have captured another village near Pokrovsk.
Zelensky calls for “ability to strike deep inside Russia now”
On Monday, Zelensky called for action on promises made at a recent meeting with allied military leaders at Ramstein air base in Germany. Following a report from the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Rustem UmerovZelensky highlighted the urgency of allied support to reduce Russia’s combat capabilities.
In his speech at the meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, Zelensky told partners that “Ukraine needs the ability to attack deep inside Russia now”. The Group meets regularly to coordinate arms aid for war.
Russia increases pressure inside Ukraine
After thanking the troops for “firmly repel Russian assaults and regain our positions,” Zelensky emphasized the importance of destroying as many of the occupier’s forces as possible. “In the direction of Pokrovsk and Kurakhovo, the Russian army must lose as much combat capability as possible“he added.
According to Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyjthe Russian advance has stopped. However, Russia claims that it continues to conquer territory on the road to Pokrovsk.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified attacks with missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, targeting the energy infrastructure and causing deadly attacks on neighbors’ houses.
