Ukraine War Updates: Kyiv Targeted as Fighting Intensifies Around Pokrovsk
Kyiv, Ukraine – russia launched another wave of attacks on Kyiv and multiple other Ukrainian regions on Thursday, deploying both drones and missiles, according to Ukrainian military governance reports. The attacks come as intense fighting continues in the east, especially around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
ukraine’s top commander, Gen. Oleksandr syrskyi, visited units defending Pokrovsk to coordinate operations. He stated the key objectives are regaining control of areas, securing supply and evacuation routes, and establishing new ones. “There is no question of Russian control over the city of Pokrovsk or of the operational encirclement of Ukraine’s defence forces in the area,” Syrskyi affirmed. Russian advances in the area have been aided by the Rubicon unit’s use of drones to target Ukrainian drone operators, according to the Financial Times.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated he would support commanders’ decisions regarding a potential withdrawal from Pokrovsk, acknowledging the “very tough” situation.”No one is forcing them to die for the sake of ruins,” Zelenskyy said in a Bloomberg interview. “The most crucial thing for us is our soldiers.” The Institute for the Study of War assesses that Russian forces are likely to encircle Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, but the strategic significance of capturing these towns will depend on the circumstances of any ukrainian withdrawal.
Zelenskyy also visited troops near the south-eastern front, highlighting the challenging situation near Orikhiv, which is crucial for protecting the city of Zaporizhzhia. “An important city, the enemy certainly wants it,” Zelenskyy stated. “We certainly have to defend it.”
On the financial front, the European Commission announced a €6 billion loan to Ukraine, with President Ursula von der Leyen pledging further financial support for Kyiv over the next two years. Von der Leyen asserted that Vladimir Putin miscalculates Ukraine’s resilience and that the EU aims to bring him to the negotiation table.
