Ukrainian forces achieve gains on Pokrovsk front as Russian troops suffer heavy losses — Zelenskyy

“We are making progress. Units of the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades are operating very effectively on the Dobropillia front. Today, decisions have been made to further strengthen this and other directions in Donetsk,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He added that special attention is being given to positions in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Zelenskyy also thanked Ukrainian troops for their resilience.

“The Russian army continues to suffer significant losses while trying to secure more favorable political positions for its leadership at the Alaska meeting. We understand this plan and are informing our partners about the real situation,” he said.

Zelenskyy noted that the command discussed the development of the contract system in the Armed Forces and the financing of Ukraine’s defense and security forces for 2025–2026.

The president also said he expects an intelligence briefing today on Russia’s current intentions and preparations for the Alaska meeting.

“The stakes are indeed very high,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

The key, he said, is for the meeting “to open the possibility of a real path to a fair peace and substantive talks among the leaders in a trilateral format,” meaning Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia.

Situation near Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast

On Aug. 11, analysts from DeepState reported that Russian forces were actively advancing near Dobropillia in the Pokrovsk district. Rapid capture of settlements in this area could allow Russian troops to penetrate deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Former chief of staff of the 12th Special Forces Brigade, Bohdan Krotevych, known by the call sign Tavr, told President Zelenskyy that Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad were nearly encircled, and Kostiantynivka was semi-encircled.

On Aug. 12, the General Staff officially reported that Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups had entered the settlements of Vesele, Vilne, Rubizhne, and Kucheriv Yar along the Pokrovsk direction, using local terrain features. Some of these forces have already been destroyed by Ukrainian troops.

The Azov Corps said its fighters have taken positions on the Pokrovsk front.

On Aug. 14, the Joint Forces Operation in Dnipro reported that Ukrainian forces had improved the situation on the Pokrovsk front, preventing further Russian advances.