UKRAINE – After a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was attempting to take control of Pokrovsk city as fast as possible in a move he claims is intended to show that Russia can take over the whole Donbas region.
“The number one goal for the Russians is to occupy Pokrovsk as soon as possible,” said Zelenskyy, according to Ukrainian media.
He noted that 314 Russian troops are currently in the city, while a large group is operating on its outskirts. Ukrainian forces have recorded 220 assaults on Pokrovsk in three days, he said.
“I think this factor may influence both the advancement of sanctions and their delay. Russia fears strong decisions from the United States and wants to use Pokrovsk to show success on the battlefield,” he said.
Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces suffered their highest monthly loss in October since the start of the war, estimating casualties at 27,000 to 28,000 soldiers, a figure he attributed to the increased use of drones.
He announced the upcoming launch of a large-scale production of domestic Mavic-style drones, adding that “funded contracts are already being prepared.”
“In case of a positive signal from President Trump, they will gladly transfer or sell the systems,” he said, adding that Kyiv is negotiating for other long-range weapons as part of a “deterrence package” against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
The Ukrainian leader noted that his forces were making progress near Kupyansk, while the situation around Vovchansk “could become more difficult” as Russian troops continue to amass.
Pokrovsk, located in the Donetsk region, has become a key flashpoint amid intensified Russian offensives. The city’s fall would allow Moscow to claim full control of Donbas, a central objective since Russia launched its military campaign in February 2022.
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