Russia Claims Strategic Capture of Ukraine's Pokrovsk and Vovchansk Amid Peace Negotiations

Russia announced on Monday that its forces had captured Pokrovsk, a crucial military logistics hub in eastern Ukraine, as well as Vovchansk in the northeast region.

This battlefield development, communicated by the Kremlin via Telegram, increases pressure on Kyiv during its participation in challenging US-led peace negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.

Pokrovsk, an important road and rail center in the Donetsk region with a pre-war population of approximately 60,000, has been under intense Russian military pressure for several months.

In a defensive effort last month, Ukraine deployed reinforcements, including special forces troops, to protect the city against advancing Russian forces.

Despite these defensive measures, hundreds of Russian soldiers successfully infiltrated the city.

According to the Kremlin's Telegram statement, Russia's military chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, informed President Vladimir Putin on Sunday about "the liberation of the cities of Krasnoarmeysk and Vovchansk," using the Russian designation for Pokrovsk.

The Russian defense ministry released video footage allegedly showing Russian troops raising their national flag in Pokrovsk's central square.

If confirmed, this territorial gain would significantly disrupt Ukraine's supply lines across the front and potentially provide Russia with a strategic position to advance further north and west.

The capture also puts nearby Ukrainian military garrisons at risk of encirclement by Russian forces.

Vovchansk, situated in the Kharkiv region, has experienced devastating combat operations since May 2024.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov characterized the capture of this city as an "important step toward victory."

Analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) by AFP indicates that the Russian military made its most significant territorial advance in Ukraine last month since November 2024.