Volodymyr Zelensky: the situation on the front near Pokrovsk is extremely difficult

– There was a report from the commander. Pokrovsky and other areas in the Donetsk region – it is extremely difficult there, the key Russian efforts and the largest forces are concentrated there. The steadfastness of each of our units, our ability to destroy the occupier, is very important now – Zelensky said.

Russian troops are currently about 12 kilometers from Pokrovsk, a major transport hub in the Donetsk region in the east. Ukraine.

– The commander (Syrsky) also reported on the operation in Kursk region (in Russia). We continue to increase the territory of our control in some areas near the border with Ukraine. Today, as every day, we are also replenishing our resources for the exchange of prisoners. (…) This is what will help bring many of our people home from Russian captivity – Zelensky said.

He added that “we also have to realize that all the tension we have transferred to Russia means that they cannot put even more pressure on our Donetsk region.”

The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an offensive operation in the Kursk region on Russian territory on August 6. The territories of present-day Russia have not been occupied by foreign armies since World War II.

The president pointed out that all partners should be more active in combating Russian terror. – This terror should never become some new alleged “normality” for Europe – he emphasized.

– We continue to insist on making a decision now – to lift restrictions on Ukraine's ability to conduct long-range strikes, which will help us end the war as quickly as possible, in a way that is fair to Ukraine and the entire world – he said. – Defending life has the same meaning everywhere. I thank everyone in the world who is helping us – the president emphasized.

The Pokrovsky section is one of the most intensively attacked sections of the front by the enemy. The aggressor forces are trying to seize the Konstantynovka-Pokrovsky highway in order to disrupt the logistical connection of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

On Tuesday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrsky, speaking online at the “Ukraine 2024. Independence” forum in Kyiv, said that “the situation in the Pokrov region is quite difficult.”

– In recent weeks, there have been an average of more than 50 armed clashes every day. The enemy is using its superiority in manpower, weapons and military equipment, and is actively using artillery, aircraft and armored vehicles. Offensive operations are mainly conducted by infantry assault groups – the commander said.

– The Defense Forces are doing everything possible to stop the enemy's advance. Every day, our soldiers disarm an average of 300 occupiers in this direction, and work is actively being carried out on engineering equipment for our positions and defense lines. The situation, despite its complexity, is under our control, he emphasized.

– Every day in this direction (Pokrov – ed.) fierce battles are taking place. This is the zone to which we are paying special attention. We are also concentrating our main forces and resources in this direction – Syrski said.

He said that “the Kursk operation (led to) the redirection of a significant number of enemy forces”. – At the moment we can say that about 30 thousand (Russian) soldiers have already been redirected to the Kursk direction. This number is constantly growing – he noted.

He noted that one of the tasks of the offensive operation in the Kursk direction “was to divert significant enemy forces from other directions, primarily Pokrovsky and Kurakhov.”

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