Ukrainians Raise Flag in Pokrovsk: A Defiant Stand Against Russian Claims

Tue Dec 09 2025 18:40:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the beleaguered city of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate their resolve by waving their national flag, countering Russian assertions of territorial capture. Amidst ongoing fighting, they stress the importance of visible resistance to maintain international support.

Despite Russian claims to have captured Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces assert that the city has not fallen. Soldiers working from a command post relay live footage of drone operations, emphasizing their resilience in the face of ongoing attacks. As the battle continues, Ukrainian troops express a firm commitment to defending their territory and rejecting any notion of ceding land for peace.

Pokrovsk has not fallen yet. That is despite President Vladimir Putin's recent claim that Russian forces have taken the city.

There is no doubt Ukraine has been losing ground in this key city in the east. For Russia, Pokrovsk is another stepping stone towards its goal of taking control of all of the Donbas. But Ukraine needs to prove it is still capable of resisting.

At a Ukrainian command post, well behind the front line, orders are relayed by radio in rapid and quick succession. Soldiers watch dozens of live drone feeds. They are coordinating strikes on Russian positions inside the city.

The commander of the Skala Assault Regiment, Yuri, is keen to prove to us that Ukraine still controls the north of the city - to show that the Kremlin's claim that it has taken Pokrovsk is a lie.

Over the radio, they ask two of their soldiers to break cover from a building to display a Ukrainian flag. They move quickly to avoid being spotted. The drone feed shows the moment they briefly wave their yellow and blue flag, before quickly returning to cover.

Yuri tells me: You've now seen it with your own eyes. He adds, I think the whole world should know we will not just give up our territory. If we do not show this, everyone will lose faith and stop helping Ukraine.

The battle for Pokrovsk, once a key logistics hub for Ukraine's military, has been grinding on for nearly 18 months. The city is already in ruins.

The question now is how much longer can Ukraine hold on, as Russian forces continue their advances from the south.

Sasha, a 25-year-old battalion commander, shows me a map with toy soldiers representing troop positions, stating that despite the chaos, they still search for strategies to outmaneuver the adversary's tactics.

However, as Rabbit, a Ukrainian soldier remarks, they believe not enough Russian casualties have been inflicted. They assess the situation as hard, but under control. Rabbit emphasizes the bond to their land: If we give it up, Russia will want more.

Troops in Pokrovsk continue to fight on, driven by a desire to resist and a firm belief that their efforts are vital for Ukraine’s future.