Ukrainian troops repel Russian forces near Pishchane, close to Pokrovsk

This was reported by Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia troops grouping, during the United News telethon.

"Ukrainian forces successfully repelled the Russian forces near Pishchane, which is not far from Pokrovsk. The village is next to Shevchenko. Russia was pushed back to the trees, and fighting is still ongoing with them," he said.

Voloshyn also stated that there are no battles currently on the outskirts of Pokrovsk and no Russian reconnaissance or sabotage groups have been spotted in the city.

"Of course, Russia is trying to move closer to the city," he added.

He further explained that the Russian army is avoiding direct attacks and trying to bypass Pokrovsk from the flanks.

• On December 16, Ivan Tymochko, the head of the Reservists Council of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the Russian army lost 150,000 personnel and thousands of armored vehicles near Pokrovsk.