Russia tightens grip on key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk
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The regional governor says only 7,000 people remain from a pre-war population of 60,000, while Russian forces have reached the city's key rail link to Dnipro.
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Ukrainian servicemen collect damaged ammunition on the road at the front line near Chasiv Yar town in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on January 10, 2025. (AP)
Russian soldiers are tightening the noose on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistical center.
The fall of the city may put Russia in a great position to launch strikes in numerous directions to the east, increasing pressure on Kiev at a key moment in the war.
According to the regional governor, 7,000 people remain from the pre-war population of 60,000 and Moscow's soldiers have neared the city's major rail connection from eastern Ukraine's most significant logistics hub, Dnipro.
The deputy commander of Ukraine's 59th assault brigade, battling along the Pokrovsk front called the situation "generally difficult," explaining that Russian troops are "constantly attacking on foot."
He requested to be known by his military call sign, Phoenix, for security concerns.
According to the officer, Russia has far more soldiers, made its attacks in small groups, is ready to accept exceptionally high casualties, and cleverly used the terrain and low-visibility weather conditions to conceal from drones.
Phoenix told Reuters they were moving forward "day and night."
Read more: Russian Armed Forces take control of two villages in DPR
Pokrovsk may become staging base for next push
Pokrovsk's road and rail links have made it a major supply center for a huge portion of Ukraine's frontline, however in recent months, Russian artillery and drones have curtailed its utility.
According to Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, Pokrovsk's transit routes indicate that if it falls, Russian forces might use it as a staging base to push north or west, citing it may set up Russian troops for "potential advance into Dnipropetrovsk region ... further behind the frontlines, they're building and repairing rail lines."
"They can then move up their own logistics and that enables them to push further west."
Russian forces are now around 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the border of Dnipropetrovsk, a province whose eastern edge confronts Pokrovsk.
Ukraine talks possible, but not with 'illegitimate' Zelensky: Putin
It is noteworthy that Moscow's possession of a portion of this territory might give it an advantage in future peace talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that negotiations with Ukraine could take place but ruled out engaging with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he labeled "illegitimate."
Putin's remarks come as US President Donald Trump looks to be pushing for an end to the nearly three-year war. Trump claimed last week that Zelensky was eager to negotiate a "deal" to bring an end to the hostilities.
"If Zelensky wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part," Putin said. However, he dismissed the Ukrainian leader’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of Zelensky’s presidential term during martial law.
Putin added, "If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there... Naturally, we will strive for what suits us and aligns with our interests."
The Russian leader also asserted that the conflict would conclude swiftly—within two months—if Western nations halted their financial and military support for Kiev. "They will not exist for a month if the money and, in a broad sense, the bullets run out. Everything would be over in a month and a half or two," he claimed.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to quickly broker a ceasefire if re-elected, the conflict shows no signs of de-escalating.
