Intending To Seize Territory, Russian Troops Continue To Move In Ukraine's Pokrovsk

JAKARTA - Russia says its troops are moving forward north within Ukraine's city of Pokrovsk. Russia claims to "clean up" Kyiv forces in a bid to take full control of what has become an important transportation and logistics hub for Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukraine has acknowledged its forces are facing a difficult position in the strategic city in the eastern city, which Russia has seized for more than a year, but denies they are surrounded and says reinforcements are on their way.

Russia considers the city a gateway to seize the remaining 10%, or 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of the Donbas industrial area in eastern Ukraine, one of its main destinations in the war that has lasted nearly four years.

"The attacking groups of the 2nd and 51st troops continue to destroy the trapped units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Prigorodny microdistrict residential area, in the eastern part of the Central District, and in the private sector (where there are residences)," the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Reuters, Wednesday, November 5.

"The attack in the north continues," he continued.

His troops also removed Ukrainian troops from settlements on the southeast side of Pokrovsk and have thwarted Ukraine's efforts to get out of the siege.

The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday heavy fighting was taking place in the Pokrovsk section which is key to Kyiv's frontline logistics and that additional special forces had arrived there, with more weapons and equipment delivered.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the situation at Pokrovsk on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the area around Pokrovsk was still under heavy pressure, but up to 300 Russian soldiers who were still in the city had not made progress in the past day and there were only 60 soldiers in another city, Kupiansk.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it did not understand what was happening on the pitch or that it was deliberately trying to hide the precarious situation for Kyiv forces.

Ukrainian units are trapped in both locations. Their position is said to have deteriorated rapidly while Russian troops are moving forward, "there is no chance for Ukrainian soldiers to save themselves other than by surrendering voluntarily".