Russian forces say they have captured Pokrovsk, a strategic logistics hub in eastern Ukraine, along with Vovchansk in Kharkiv. The Kremlin hailed the “liberation,” though Ukraine has yet to confirm the reports.

Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that Pokrovsk and Vovchansk are under Russian control. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the news was reported to President Vladimir Putin during his visit to a front-line command centre.

Pokrovsk, a critical transportation hub in the Donetsk region, has faced heavy bombardment over the past two years, with artillery, drones, and bombs reducing many buildings to rubble.

Kremlin hails victory

Videos circulated by Moscow show Russian soldiers marching through the streets of Pokrovsk, raising the Russian flag. Putin congratulated troops on their “victory” in what Russian officials call Krasnoarmeysk, the city’s Russian name.

“I want to thank you for the results of your work regarding Krasnoarmeysk, both you and the entire command and personnel of the battlegroup,” Putin said, praising Russian fighters carrying out combat missions.

Ukraine’s response and international talks

Ukraine has not confirmed the Russian claims of capturing Pokrovsk. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with US and European leaders to discuss ways to negotiate an end to the war.

Zelenskyy emphasized that one of his top priorities is preventing Moscow from securing territorial concessions that would legitimize the occupation of Ukrainian land.

Pokrovsk, once home to approximately 60,000 residents, serves as a major logistics and transportation hub in the Donetsk region. Its capture would provide Russia with a significant strategic advantage in eastern Ukraine.