Russian forces intensify attacks on Pokrovsk as Ukraine defends key strategic hub

The intensity of assaults on some front-line areas has decreased, but Russian forces continue their attempts to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Commander of the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion, Bohdan Przhehalinsky, explained the reasons behind this to Hromadske Radio.

He identified two main factors that make the city a key target for Russian forces.

"Every major city serves as a convenient hub for stockpiling and concentrating logistical and material resources, enabling further movement in various directions," the military commander explained.

The second reason is political.

According to the Ukrainian commander, Pokrovsk is not only a large city but also a highly visible and frequently mentioned location in international media, particularly in countries closely monitoring the war in Ukraine.

"This is important for them. Capturing it would open new strategic opportunities, allowing them to escalate efforts and continue advancing in a direction aligned with their overall plan," the commander emphasized.

He also noted that Russian forces conduct daily and nightly assaults on the Pokrovsk front, usually in small groups of three to four soldiers.

Additionally, Russian troops are continuously striking villages and towns in the Pokrovsk direction.

Russian forces are also disrupting Ukrainian logistics, as the Pokrovsk–Dnipro highway is partially under their fire control.

• According to the General Staff of Ukraine, as of the morning of March 7, there were 56 combat clashes along the front line. In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces attempted 11 attacks to displace Ukrainian defenders from positions near the settlements of Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Oleksiivka, Andriivka, and Ulakly. Pokrovsk and Zvyrove also suffered airstrikes.