Russia has asserted that its forces had seized control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a claim Kyiv has declined to confirm and which Ukrainian officials have described as part of a broader effort by Moscow to shape diplomatic negotiations.
The announcement, which has not been independently verified, follows months of intense urban combat around the strategic transport hub. Russian forces have reportedly suffered heavy casualties in their push toward the city.
The timing of the claim has drawn scrutiny, coming shortly after high-level discussions between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida over paths to ending the war, and just one day before US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Ukrainian officials suggested Russia’s statement was aimed at influencing those talks. Andriy Kovalenko, who heads Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, warned that the Kremlin would escalate battlefield pressure and issue “loud statements” over the coming weeks to “raise diplomatic stakes” for Western audiences.
Ukraine’s military acknowledged that conditions in Pokrovsk remain “difficult,” but insisted that its forces are still holding back Russian advances in parts of the city and nearby settlements.
The Kremlin’s claim came a day after Putin visited frontline troops. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, General Valery Gerasimov informed Putin during the visit that Russian units had taken Pokrovsk, though it remains unclear why the announcement was delayed.
On Monday, the Kremlin released video, geolocated by CNN, showing Russian soldiers raising a flag in Pokrovsk’s central district. That area has been under Russian control for some time, as Moscow’s forces have been advancing gradually from the city’s southern approaches.
Pokrovsk has long been considered a vital logistics node for Ukraine due to its road and rail links. However, repeated Russian strikes on the main highway and railway compelled Kyiv to divert supply routes, reducing its strategic importance.
Putin praised Russian commanders for what he called “successful actions” in Pokrovsk, telling troops that the reported gains would help “ensure steady progress” toward Moscow’s war objectives.
Kyiv, meanwhile, maintains that the battle for Pokrovsk is not over and continues to urge international partners to look beyond what it describes as Russia’s information tactics ahead of renewed diplomatic efforts.
Source: CNN
Written By Rodney Mbua
