Russia throws additional reserves at Pokrovsk, Ukrainian general says

“Russian forces wanted to take Pokrovsk by September,” said Lasiychuk.

“Now it’s the end of November, and the fighting continues. After fierce battles, the enemy has taken significant losses and is forced to replenish its ranks from reserves. Russia’s command has already deployed the 76th Guards Air Assault Division from the Center Group’s operational reserve into our area of responsibility. This is effectively a last-ditch effort.”

He added that Moscow’s claims of having captured the city are not backed by facts and that efforts to encircle Ukrainian units in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad metro area have also failed.

“We continue to reinforce our forces, including with UAV units,” Lasyichuk said.

“This allows us to frustrate the enemy’s intent to break through to Pokrovsk with heavy armor. There have already been several such attempts.”

On Nov. 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the fiercest fighting on the front remains centered on Pokrovsk, where more than 150,000 Russian troops continue to assault positions held by Ukraine.

On Nov. 25, Ukrainska Pravda reported that most of Pokrovsk is under Russian control, although Ukrainian positions still remain on the northern outskirts. The newspaper said the General Staff’s map of the situation on the Pokrovsk front “lags at least a month behind reality.”