President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the situation in Pokrovsk remains "very difficult", but that any decision on a possible troop withdrawal is the prerogative of military commanders on the ground.

Source: Bloomberg

Quote: "Nobody is pushing them to die for the sake of ruins. I will support our soldiers, especially commanders who are there, how they can control the situation. Or it's too costly for us – the most important [thing] for us is our soldiers."

Details: According to the president, Russia seeks victory in Pokrovsk to convince US President Donald Trump that Ukraine should withdraw its troops from the entire Donbas region in order to end the war.

Nevertheless, Zelenskyy stressed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces cannot abandon Ukraine's east, because "people won't understand that".

"And the main thing is that nobody will guarantee you that if they seize this or that town, they won't move further. There is no deterrent factor," he emphasised.

Zelenskyy added that the Russians "don't have that much strength" and is attacking Ukraine's energy system in an attempt to force the country into submission before spring.

"They know that as soon as the energy factor disappears, they don't have other strong factors," the president said.

Background:

• Ukrainska Pravda sources among troops deployed to the Pokrovsk front reported that since at least 6 November, the Russians have been entering Pokrovsk on motorcycles and pickup trucks, deploying mortars within the city. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Ukrainian special forces' attempts to clear the city came too late and did not alter the balance of power on the ground.
• Later, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, explained how Ukraine plans to hold Pokrovsk.

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