Russia surrounds Pokrovsk as Ukraine battles to hold key Donetsk hub | Zelensky

The battle for Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region has reached a critical stage as Russia deploys nearly 170,000 troops, overwhelming Ukrainian defenses. President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops eight-to-one. Kyiv has deployed special forces by helicopter in a last-ditch effort to defend the strategic logistics hub. According to Ukrainian military sources and war monitors, Russian troops have surrounded Pokrovsk from three sides and destroyed bridges, cutting off key supply and evacuation routes. Analysts warn that delayed withdrawals could lead to chaotic losses, as seen in earlier battles. Moscow claims its forces are steadily advancing as part of a broader push to capture the entire Donbas region, while Western observers say Russia’s progress remains slow and costly.