The Russian army has concentrated its main strike force in the Pokrovsk direction, where some of the heaviest fighting is taking place, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address.
According to him, the enemy has thrown a significant number of troops against Pokrovsk, creating an extremely tense situation in the city itself, its outskirts, and neighboring areas. “There is fierce fighting in the city and on the approaches to the city, and there are DRGs in the city. Logistics are difficult. But we must continue to destroy the occupiers and inflict as many losses on the Russians as possible,” the president stressed.
Zelenskyy noted the 82nd Bukovinian Airborne Assault Brigade, which is holding the defense in the Pokrovsk direction, as well as other units that are successfully carrying out combat missions in Donetsk region. “Every such result in the Pokrovsk direction is now extremely difficult, but extremely important,” he said.
The President also mentioned the consequences of Russian attacks on Kyiv: three people were killed and 31 were injured, including seven children. The head of state thanked the rescuers and utility services who eliminated the consequences of the “suicide bomber” strikes.
According to him, this week alone, the Russians launched nearly 1,200 strike drones and 50 missiles of various types at Ukraine, most of them ballistic. “No nation should be left alone to face this. Protection against this threat must be a joint effort,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
The president thanked Britain and France for their decision to supply missiles for air defense and additional Mirage fighter jets, and also noted the contributions of Finland and Spain to the PURL program for the purchase of American weapons.
“Russia’s plans for its offensive campaign in the first ten months of this year have once again been thwarted. And this is thanks to the courage of our soldiers,” Zelenskyy concluded.