"KYIV, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Russian forces persist in launching attacks near the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to encircle it from the south and sever supply routes to Ukrainian troops," the Ukrainian military reported on Saturday.
The strategic capture of the road and rail hub in eastern Donetsk could pose significant challenges for the Ukrainian army on the eastern front, while enabling Russia to bolster its frontline position to the west.
"The Pokrovsk direction remains highly active, with 34 Russian attacks (in the last 24 hours), mostly focused on breaching our defenses south of Pokrovsk," Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia forces, informed Ukrainian national television.
Previously home to a coking coal mine vital for Ukraine's steel industry, the city's pre-war population numbered approximately 60,000 residents, of which an estimated 11,000 remain.
Trehubov detailed Russian attempts to disrupt supply routes by infiltrating settlements south of Pokrovsk with small groups of soldiers.
"Russians avoid direct engagement in the city to evade intense urban combat. Instead, they seek to skirt the city and disrupt logistical chains," Trehubov remarked.
Kyiv's forces are countering Russian troops by employing drones and precision weaponry to impede their advances towards targets."