Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated Friday that fierce battles are raging near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub where Russian forces have been capturing nearby villages almost daily. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy revealed that Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi had briefed senior officials on the critical situation in the region, calling it the current focal point of the war. “All operational directions were covered, with particular focus on Pokrovsk,” Zelenskiy said.
The Ukrainian military is also engaged in combat operations in the northern Sumy region, where Russian troops have recently gained ground. Syrskyi, in a Telegram update, described Pokrovsk and five other sectors as among the most challenging along the 1,000-km frontline. He claimed that Russian forces are suffering heavy losses in their attempted “summer offensive.” Pokrovsk, a pre-war rail and road hub with a population of 60,000, has been nearly emptied as fighting intensifies.
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Thursday the capture of two villages flanking Pokrovsk—Zvirove to the west and Novoekonomichne to the east—along with Novotoretske earlier in the week. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed these losses, though the General Staff acknowledged Russian attempts to breach defenses near Zvirove and Novoekonomichne. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s forces reportedly reclaimed the village of Kindrativka in Sumy region, according to the DeepState military blog, though neither side has officially commented.
The battle for Pokrovsk holds strategic importance as it hosts Ukraine’s only active coking coal mine, vital for the steel industry. Syrskyi had previously claimed in May that Ukrainian forces had stabilized the area, but recent Russian advances suggest renewed pressure. Moscow appears determined to encircle the city as part of its broader offensive in the Donetsk region.
As the conflict enters its third year, Ukraine continues to face mounting challenges along multiple fronts. The situation in Sumy, where Russia seeks to establish a “buffer zone,” remains volatile. With both sides reporting contrasting battlefield developments, the fog of war persists, underscoring the fluid and unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict.