The commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces has warned Russian activity is increasing around the key frontline town of Pokrovsk, saying the situation is difficult.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi admitted Russian infantry was massing in the area and said he had visited the frontline himself for talks with key commanders.
But he said reports that Ukrainian troops had been blockaded there by Russian forces was untrue propaganda.
There have been growing reports of Russian advances around the strategic town in the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. It forms a key transport and supply hub and its capture could unlock Russian efforts to seize the rest of the region.
In a statement on Telegram, General Syrskyi stated: In Pokrovsk, enemy infantry, avoiding combat, is amassing in the urban area and changing locations, so the primary objective is to identify and destroy them.
He added: The situation is difficult, but Russian propaganda claims about the alleged 'blockade' of the Ukrainian Defence Forces in Pokrovsk, as well as in Kupiansk, are untrue.
He emphasized that commanders were striving to maintain a reasonable balance between goals and capabilities, stating that the main priority is preserving the lives of our soldiers.
Russian forces have been trying to seize Pokrovsk for more than a year. Taking it would provide them a pathway towards capturing Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the two largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the region.
Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia's chief of general staff, Gen Valery Gerasimov, claimed earlier this week that Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk had been surrounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Pokrovsk was the main target for Russia, asserting that Russian forces there outnumber Ukrainians eight to one.
He further explained that Russia seeks to capture the town to create the illusion of Ukrainian withdrawal in hopes of swaying U.S. support.
Latest assessments from defense intelligence firm, Sybelline, indicate that the battle for Pokrovsk has entered a highly intense phase, with Russian advancements aimed at encircling Ukrainian defenders.
Ukrainian monitoring group Deepstate has reported that Russian troops are infiltrating deeper into Pokrovsk, causing disruptions in Ukrainian supply routes.
The situation in Pokrovsk is on the brink of crisis and continues to deteriorate, to the point where it may be too late to fix everything, the group concluded.
