Kyiv says Moscow’s forces carrying out ‘fast manoeuvres’ in push for key city, while sides give conflicting reports of combat around Myrnohrad. What we know on day 1,357
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Ukraine and Russia have issued conflicting accounts of fighting around Myrnohrad, an embattled town to the east of Pokrovsk, which Moscow’s forces have enveloped from almost all sides. The Ukrainian military said on Facebook on Monday that it had delivered supplies into Myrnohrad and rotated out troops fighting in the town, including those who were wounded. “Ukrainian units are confidently holding their positions and destroying the occupiers on the approaches to the town,” the statement said. “Logistics to the town are complicated, but are being carried out.” Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram that its forces were advancing on the town, noting gains in two of its districts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were holding their positions around Pokrovsk and Dobropillia, a town to the north, where Kyiv says its troops have made gains. Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia was concentrating about 150,000 troops on a drive to capture Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk” and in Russia’s sights for more than a year as it pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region. Mechanised groups and marine brigades were part of Russia’s push, he told the New York Post. “There are ongoing battles and fights raging on. There are fast manoeuvres carried out by the enemy all the time.”The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.
