Zelenskyy: Russia attacks Pokrovsk to show US it can seize Ukraine's east

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian forces have concentrated significant troops near the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast to demonstrate to the US that they are capable of capturing the entire eastern part of Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking with journalists, as reported by Ukrinform

Quote: "We understand why they [Russia] want Pokrovsk. They only need it to say: look, the idea that Ukraine will withdraw from the east and give up everything else they want – that it is the only possible outcome, otherwise they would supposedly capture even more. So the fact that we are holding Pokrovsk and they are constantly shifting their campaign plans proves to the world that they are lying and that it is necessary and worthwhile to continue helping Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy said Russia had deployed such a large number of forces on the Pokrovsk front that it would be difficult for Ukraine to resist even at a ratio of one to eight.

"They are already showing them maps with Pokrovsk captured, telling them how they are positioned in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, how they have taken 90% of Ukraine's east. These are simply lies," he emphasised.

The president noted that there are around 200 Russian troops in the city: "We can see this from drones. As soon as they show themselves or open fire, they are detected and destroyed."

Read also: How Pokrovsk is imperceptibly falling: five observations by Ukrainska Pravda

Background:

• On 26 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had concentrated its main assault force against Pokrovsk, consisting of a significant number of troops.
• On 24 October, Ukrainska Pravda reported that there were at least 250 Russian troops in Pokrovsk, engaging in firefights and killing Ukrainian soldiers at their positions, particularly drone operators.
• Logistics into the city are fully controlled by drones, and Ukrainian troops have to walk 10-15 kilometres to reach their positions. Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are at risk of encirclement.

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