Ukraine's General Staff outlines situation in Pokrovsk and Vovchansk: Russia's triumphant claims do not reflect reality

Ukraine's defence forces continue defensive operations in Pokrovsk, Vovchansk and Kupiansk, while the triumphant statements made by Russia's leadership do not correspond to reality. In Pokrovsk, Ukrainian defenders are holding the northern part of the city along the railway line; in Vovchansk, they are also maintaining their positions.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Earlier, Russian propagandists claimed that the Russian leader had supposedly visited one of the Russian army's control points on 1 December and announced plans to create a "security zone" along the Ukrainian border. They also asserted that the occupation of Pokrovsk had been celebrated by Russia's commander-in-chief Andrei Belousov.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is seeing the beginning of "new disinformation campaigns by Russia ahead of their meetings with the US".

Quote from the General Staff: "Units of Ukraine's defence forces continue defensive operations in difficult sectors of the front, including in Pokrovsk, Vovchansk and Kupiansk. The triumphant statements of the aggressor state's leadership regarding the 'capture' of these settlements by Russian forces do not correspond to reality. This is merely another attempt by the Kremlin to use a staged propagandistic flag-planting video with the aim of influencing international negotiations."

Details: Ukrainian military officials reported that in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's defence forces are holding the northern part of the city along the railway line. Search-and-assault operations are ongoing to eliminate remaining Russian positions. The Russian troops are suffering significant losses.

Over the past 24 hours on the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian soldiers have killed a total of 104 Russian soldiers. The troops have already cleared the group that, under the cover of fog, raised the Russian flag in one of the city's districts.

"The defence forces are organising additional logistical routes in the vicinity of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad to supply our positions with everything we need," the statement reads.

According to the General Staff, the situation in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, remains tense. The Russians continue attempts to advance in the settlement, using small infantry groups, attack UAVs and artillery. "However, Ukrainian defenders are firmly holding their positions," the military reports.

"The Russians' performative missions with tricolours [Russian flag – ed.] mean only one thing for the occupiers – they will be eliminated by Ukraine's defence forces," the General Staff added.

Background: Earlier, DeepState, a group of Ukrainian military analysts, reported that in November, Russian forces seized 505 sq km of Ukrainian territory, with 40% of all advances occurring near Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!