Russia claims capture of strategic Ukrainian city Pokrovsk

Russia has claimed control of the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, Moscow said on December 1. If confirmed, it would mark a major advance for Russia in the ongoing war.

Kyiv has rejected the claim, saying Moscow is spreading such assertions to create pressure in ceasefire negotiations.

The city, long a battleground, has been strategically vital for Ukraine due to its rail and road connections. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the fighting.

Meanwhile, senior US and Ukrainian officials have met in Florida for high-level talks on a possible ceasefire. Hours after the meeting, Russia announced the claim of capturing Pokrovsk.

Ukraine has not acknowledged the loss directly, but the head of the country’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, said Russia may continue spreading such information in the coming weeks to influence both the battlefield and negotiations.

Earlier, Ukraine’s armed forces said they were still holding defensive positions in and around Pokrovsk despite difficult conditions and continued resistance against Russian troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the battlefield on Sunday to meet soldiers. There, army chief Valery Gerasimov informed him of the city’s capture. A later video released by the president’s office showed Russian forces raising a flag in central Pokrovsk, which CNN has verified.

Continuous Russian drone attacks have damaged road and rail routes, prompting Ukraine to begin using alternative supply lines.