Syrskyi on Pokrovsk: situation is difficult, but there is no blockade of Defense Forces

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported on the situation in Pokrovsk (Donetsk Region) that the situation is difficult, but there is no blockade of the Defense Forces of Ukraine there. Syrskyi announced this on Facebook, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

Syrskyi said that the enemy is increasing its activity in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration area, so he visited this important area again, met with the commanders of army corps, military units and subdivisions that are holding back the numerically superior enemy invasion, heard reports on the current situation, existing needs, and listened to proposals.

"The situation is complicated, but the statements of russian propaganda about the alleged "blocking" of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Pokrovsk, as well as in Kupyansk, do not correspond to reality. At the same time, in Pokrovsk, enemy infantry, avoiding clashes, accumulates in the city buildings, changes its location, so the primary task is to detect and destroy it," he said.

Syrskyi noted that in such conditions, the high-quality work of reconnaissance and strike drones is extremely important, in addition to the Unmanned Systems Forces, in the city, groups of Airborne Assault Troops, assault regiments, Special Operations Forces, the Special Purpose Center, the Military Law and Order Service, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the National Police are conducting strike and search operations and performing tasks to eliminate the enemy.

"We are working to strengthen the stability of the defense in the Pokrovsk Axis. Here the following are important: high-quality interaction between units, providing them with everything they need, including in accordance with additional needs; clear and coordinated implementation of assigned tasks. Each commander, regardless of level, must organize high-quality implementation of tasks. I have strictly warned commanders not to allow irresponsibility. For this, I will take strict measures up to removal from their posts," the Commander-in-Chief reported.

Syrskyi also gave an order in the context of improving logistics, separately identifying tasks to strengthen the protection of supply and evacuation routes.

The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that all decisions are made promptly, they are based on maintaining a reasonable balance between goals and capabilities, but the main priority is to preserve the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

Syrskyi also reported that the Dobropillia operation is ongoing, as of today, assault units have advanced from 200 m to 550 m in some directions, in total, 186.8 sq km of Ukrainian territory was liberated during this operation, 246.8 sq km were cleared of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on October 29, the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council denied the statement of the leader of the aggressor country, russia, vladimir putin, about the alleged encirclement of Pokrovsk (Donetsk Region) and Kupyansk (Kharkiv Region) by russian troops.

According to The Financial Times, putin ordered the capture of Pokrovsk by mid-November.