Russian forces are making a concerted push in eastern Ukraine and have gained a foothold in the strategic town of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated. The battle for Pokrovsk, a key hub in the Donetsk region, is intensifying, with fighting reported to be occurring for control of individual buildings, according to soldiers and analysts.
The Ukrainian military acknowledged the deteriorating situation around Pokrovsk on Friday, February 7, 2026, with Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi reporting that Russia had concentrated 110,000 troops near the town in an attempt to seize the strategically important location. The monitoring channel “DeepState” reported on Monday, February 10, 2026, that “final battles” were underway for Pokrovsk, following the reported capture of the neighboring town of Myrnohrad days earlier.
If Russia succeeds in fully controlling Pokrovsk, it would represent a significant step closer to gaining control of the Donbas region. The offensive on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad began in August 2024, and despite earlier claims by Moscow of capturing these areas in December, Ukrainian forces and independent analysts did not confirm those assertions at the time.
The Kyiv Independent reported on July 17, 2025, that Pokrovsk had become a “fortress city” facing constant enemy attacks. The report detailed the increasing risks faced by Ukrainian soldiers and civilians attempting to enter or leave the city, with Russian drone surveillance operating 24/7. Ukrainian drone teams face challenges in navigating the area, even with the employ of drone detectors and electronic warfare systems.
The intensity of the fighting is such that Russian and Ukrainian forces are, in some instances, contesting control of the same residential buildings, according to reports from the Associated Press. The situation in Pokrovsk is described as rapidly worsening, with Russian forces attempting to complete their occupation of the city.
Prior to the war, Pokrovsk was home to over 100,000 people. In early December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed full control of Pokrovsk, a claim that was not substantiated by Ukrainian forces or independent military observers at the time. The subsequent reported capture of Myrnohrad at the conclude of December also faced similar scrutiny.
