Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Russian forces have encircled the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, controlling 70% of it, and that nearby Myrnohrad is also surrounded.
Moscow aims to use Pokrovsk as a platform to advance toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region.
“Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) and Dimitrov (Myrnohrad) are completely surrounded,” Putin told reporters, adding that some of Kyiv’s most combat-ready troops were being destroyed in the fighting.
“70% of Krasnoarmeysk’s territory is in the hands of the Russian armed forces. In the south of the city of Dimitrov, the enemy group has been cut off. It is scattered throughout the city. And our troops are moving onto its systematic destruction,” said Putin.
Ukraine-based news outlet Ukrainska Pravda confirmed in its report that Russian forces now hold most of Pokrovsk.
“Pokrovsk is largely lost. Ukrainian positions still remain on the northern outskirts of the city; however, most of Pokrovsk is under the occupiers’ control,” the report states.
Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, however, dismissed claims of Russian advances, saying Ukrainian forces have successfully prevented new Russian assaults on both cities.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have released footage showing raid operations on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk. The clips show building clearances, ambushes, and close-quarters combat along Stepana Bovkuna Street.
🇺🇦 Pokrovsk Update 2
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have released new footage showing raid actions on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk. The footage includes clearing buildings, ambushes, and close urban fighting along Stepana Bovkuna Street,… pic.twitter.com/GqJIMnsUMj
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Frontline_Daily (@ukraine_frontup) November 26, 2025
Ukraine’s Operational Task Force “East” also reported raids south of Pokrovsk’s train station, with heavy fighting continuing in the city center. SOFX could not independently verify the conflicting battlefield claims.
