Zelensky's Visit to Troops Highlights Ongoing Battle for Pokrovsk

Wed Nov 05 2025 08:51:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits troops stationed near Pokrovsk amid fierce combat between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing resilience and military strategy in the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has conducted a visit to troops near Pokrovsk, a town currently embroiled in intense battles against Russian forces. The visit underscores Ukraine's ongoing defense strategies as Russia seeks to capture this strategic location, which could alter control dynamics in the Donetsk region. Reports claim that the situation remains critical, with claims of Russia's tightened grip on the area, although Ukrainian command asserts resilience amid overwhelming enemy presence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has visited troops near the town of Pokrovsk, where the fiercest front line battle between Russia and Ukraine is currently taking place.

Zelensky posted photos showing him meeting personnel at a command post in the Dobropillya sector, some 20km (12 miles) north of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Kyiv's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskiy, stated that Ukraine was increasing pressure on the Dobropillya front to force the enemy to disperse its forces and make it impossible to concentrate their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area.

Pokrovsk has been a target of Russian forces aiming to seize it as a strategic logistic hub for over a year.

Although it has taken months for Russian soldiers to approach the town's borders, they have reportedly infiltrated it, with Zelensky recently stating that Russia has amassed 170,000 troops on the outskirts.

Both Ukraine and Russia continue to issue claims regarding the situation in and around Pokrovsk. Capturing it could grant Moscow access to vital areas in Donetsk, strategically important for establishing further control over the region.

Gen Syrskiy acknowledged that Ukrainian troops are facing significant enemy pressures but denied encirclement. Meanwhile, Russian bloggers claim that 90% of Pokrovsk is now under Moscow's control.

Recent unverified footage has shown intense close-quarter combat, highlighting the dire situation. The US-based Institute for the Study of War noted Russian forces are operating with increasing ease within the town, which was once home to 60,000 residents but has been almost entirely evacuated.

As fighting continues on the front lines, Russia's military aims to target areas further afield, cutting off logistical routes essential for troop movement and supplies.

Zelensky remarked that a third of all front line clashes are happening in Pokrovsk and warned that the strategic stakes in the battle are high as both sides prepare for potential escalations as winter approaches.

In the midst of these ongoing struggles, Zelensky expressed determination to keep the region under Ukrainian control despite the overwhelming odds.

As the conflict evolves, the situation in Pokrovsk remains a critical focus, both for military strategists and the Ukrainian government as they navigate the complexities of defense and international support.