Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps says weather conditions, particularly dense fog, have prompted Moscow to intensify its bid to get increasing numbers into the ruined city and encircle Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have spent more than a year trying to seize the city, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the fog has favored Russian attacks and the situation remains difficult. Meanwhile, army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has warned the situation on the front line in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has significantly worsened, with the loss of three settlements.
Syrskyi stated that Russia was most active around Pokrovsk. A video has gone viral on social media showing Russian soldiers openly driving through a hazy road on civilian cars and motorbikes. The BBC has verified that the video was filmed on the southern outskirts of the town.
For several days, fog has obscured visibility for aerial reconnaissance, impacting the Ukrainian response. A drone pilot from the Shershni Dovbusha unit explained how Russian forces took advantage of the conditions to launch assaults using vehicles that would normally be vulnerable to drone strikes.
The 7th Corps claims that there are about 300 Russian soldiers in Pokrovsk, although the situation appears fluid. Recent mapping indicates that Russian troops are closing in on most areas of the city, with analysts suggesting that its fall may be imminent.
Ukrainian forces aim to prevent encirclement by pushing back Russian troops from nearby settlements, while proactively targeting supply routes to diminish logistical support for Russian soldiers.
As the conflict continues, the Kremlin is also mobilizing efforts across other areas, further complicating the situation for Ukrainian forces on multiple fronts.
