No encirclement of Pokrovsk: Armed Forces, Security Service and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine operating in city, Ukraine's commander-in-chief says

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO - 1 November, 16:06

Oleksandr Syrskyi on the Pokrovsk front. Photo: Syrskyi on Facebook

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said there has been no encirclement or blockade of the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast. He also said that a complex operation to wipe out and push back Russian forces in Pokrovsk is ongoing involving, among others, Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook after his trip to the Pokrovsk front and meetings with commanders

Quote: "In the Pokrovsk-Mirnohrad agglomeration, our troops are holding back sustained pressure from a large enemy force that numbers many thousands and is persistently trying to infiltrate residential districts and cut off our supply routes. However, there is no encirclement or blockade of the cities and we are doing everything necessary to maintain logistics.

A complex operation is ongoing to destroy the enemy and drive them out of Pokrovsk. The main burden is on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, particularly UAV operators and assault units. Also operating in the city, on my instruction, are combined groups of the Special Operations Forces, the Ukrainian Military Law Enforcement Service, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other components of the Ukrainian defence forces, including DIU."

Details: Syrskyi said the Russian troops in Pokrovsk are "paying the highest price" for attempting to achieve the Kremlin leader's goal of occupying Ukrainian Donbas.

Quote: "We continue to liberate and mop up areas on the Dobropillia salient. Pokrovsk – we are holding it. Myrnohrad – we are holding it."

More details: Syrskyi stressed that in the current difficult conditions, effective coordination between units and the well-synchronised execution of tasks are crucial.

Quote: "The defence of the agglomeration will be reinforced with additional units, weapons and equipment, including unmanned systems and UAV assets."

Syrskyi also posted a photo from the Pokrovsk front in which Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, can be seen.

Background:

On 1 November, Reuters reported, citing sources, that special forces of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine had been deployed to Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast earlier this week due to intensified fighting, with the goal of stabilising the situation.
The agency also noted that the operation was led by DIU Head Kyrylo Budanov.
An Ukrainska Pravda source in military intelligence confirmed that stabilisation measures involving Defence Intelligence of Ukraine are ongoing in Pokrovsk.

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