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Ukraine loses ground near Pokrovsk, Russian force within 3 km of tactical hub

Russian troops damaged or recorded a number of Ukrainian positions near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, Kyiv's armed force said on Wednesday, as Moscow bears down on the strategic logistics hub that is home to an unique Ukrainian coking mine.

After months of accelerating advances towards Pokrovsk, Moscow's forces are now as close as 3 kilometres (1.9 miles). from the southern borders of the city, according to Ukraine's. DeepState, which maps the front lines using open sources.

As a result of prolonged clashes, 2 of our positions were. damaged, one was lost. Presently, procedures are being taken to. restore positions, Nazar Voloshyn, Ukraine's military spokesman. for the eastern front, stated in televised comments.

Pokrovsk, located about 18 kilometres (11 miles) from the. boundary of Ukraine's Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk areas, has. for months been the area of the fiercest battles in Russia's. 33-month-old full-scale intrusion of Ukraine.

In October and November, the Russian military advanced. towards the city at its fastest rate given that the early months of. the war, analysts said. Ukraine, which has actually been on the back foot. because its failed 2023 counteroffensive, says Russia has actually been. sustaining a few of its heaviest losses of the war to date.

Both Ukraine and Russia have their eye on the growing. prospect of a push for peace talks, with U.S. President-elect. Donald Trump preparing to enter office on Jan. 20, having called. for an immediate ceasefire and a speedy end to the war.

Kyiv has actually advised its allies to get it into the greatest. possible position on the battlefield before any talks do happen.

Russia, which Ukraine states has over 70,000 troops on the. Pokrovsk front, has rapidly advanced towards Shevchenko, a. village to Pokrovsk's south, in current weeks.

Its forces are presently attempting to get a foothold in the. village and sending in reconnaissance and sabotage groups,. Voloshyn said. Ukraine is holding them back for now, he added.

The fall of Pokrovsk, an important logistics centre for the. Ukrainian military in the east, would total up to the greatest. military setback for Kyiv in months.

The city also hosts Ukraine's only domestic coking coal. provider for its once-giant steel market.

The mine, which was still operating since Dec. 6, lies 10 km.

(source: Reuters)