Russian Forces Attempt to Bypass Pokrovsk, Launching Strikes on Nearby Settlements

Russian forces are attempting to bypass Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region while launching strikes on nearby settlements, Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Operational Strategic Group Khortytsia, stated on the national telethon on December 29.

According to Trehubov, Pokrovsk is a large city, so no one would want to storm it head-on. He added that just in one day, there were 28 Russian attacks in this area, the highest number among all other directions in the area of Khortytsia’s responsibility.

“The enemy is trying to bypass the city and is striking neighboring settlements, including Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Dachnynske, and others,” Trehubov said.

“Urban battles are always associated with excessive losses for the attacking side, so Russian troops are attempting to encircle the city in order to disrupt logistics and capture it with fewer casualties on their part. The situation on the Pokrovsk front is not critical.”

The Pokrovsk direction in the Donetsk region has remained one of the most active frontline hotspots for months, with a high concentration of Russian forces.

Serving as a critical logistics hub for Ukraine's eastern military operations, Pokrovsk is also home to the country's sole domestic supplier of coking coal, which is vital for the steel industry.

Previously, on December 24, a spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk reported that the Russian troops began deploying military equipment near the towns of Toretsk and Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.