Russia is said to have encircled Pokrovsk. Ukraine says fighting continues

Russian forces have surrounded the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and control 70 percent of its territory, according to President Vladimir Putin. Pokrovsk is of strategic importance as a logistics centre and 'gateway to Donetsk'.

The Russians are trying to encircle the city in a pincer manoeuvre without a direct frontal assault, while also advancing on neighbouring Mirnohrad. "To the south of the town of Dimitrov, the enemy group is cut off. It is scattered all over the city. And our troops are advancing to systematically destroy it," Putin assessed.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops are moving in multiple directions in Pokrovsk and around Mirnohrad. However, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the top commander of Ukrainian forces, said Ukraine was repelling the attacks, fighting was ongoing in the centre of Pokrovsk and Russia had to deploy reserves.

The two sides provide different maps and information. The Russian ones show Pokrovsk under Moscow's control, the Ukrainian ones as a disputed "grey zone". Reuters has been unable to independently verify these claims.

(reuters, max)