Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on October 29 that units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been encircled in the directions of Pokrovsk (Donetsk region) and Kupyansk (Kharkiv region). He stated that Russia is ready to declare a ceasefire in these directions and create conditions for a visit by media representatives.
According to Modern.az, following Putin's statement, Russian media and military Telegram channels claimed that Pokrovsk and surrounding areas had been taken under control, and that the Russian flag had been raised in some neighborhoods.
The "DeepState" monitoring project also reported that “a large part of the city is in a gray zone” status, that Russia had made significant advances, and that the city's logistics had been disrupted. According to their information, Russian troops had advanced to the northern part of the city, and sabotage groups of 200–300 people had been deployed in some buildings.
According to BBC analysis, after the capture of Avdiivka, Russian troops directed their main offensive towards Pokrovsk. Within half a year, they advanced up to 40 kilometers from the city. Currently, battles are ongoing in the northern and southern parts of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration zone. If Russian forces unite in these directions, the Ukrainian defense line will be fragmented, and several battalions could be left “in a pocket.”
In response to this information, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on October 30 visited the Pokrovsk direction and denied Russia's claims. He stated that Ukrainian servicemen have not been encircled in either Pokrovsk or Kupyansk.
“The situation is complex, but manageable. Russian infantry units are trying to avoid battles by hiding and changing positions within the city. We are intensifying the activities of reconnaissance and strike drones, neutralizing the enemy's covert groups,” Syrskyi noted.
He stated that he had instructed commanders at all levels to act responsibly, otherwise, they would be dismissed from their positions. At the same time, additional instructions were given for the protection of supply and evacuation routes.
Syrskyi emphasized that the main goal of the Ukrainian army is to protect the lives of its personnel.
Currently, on the "DeepState" map, the eastern part of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad is shown as a “gray zone.” This indicates that city control between the parties has not yet been determined.
