Russia has been threatening Pokrovsk for more than a year. Instead of the full frontal assaults it used in earlier battles like the bloody campaign for the similarly sized city of Bakhmut, Russia's military is using a pincer movement to gradually encircle Pokrovsk and threaten Ukrainian supply lines.

Ukraine has reportedly sent its elite special-operations forces to Pokrovsk in a desperate attempt to stop Russia's invasion.

Kyiv says troops pushing forward near Pokrovsk, clearing nearly 250 square kilometers of enemy units - Anadolu Ajansı

Russian air strikes hit Ukrainian civilian sites, Ukrainian officials said on November 3, killing several people and seriously damaging residential buildings while Moscow said it carried out massive attacks as its troops continue to make advances in the key city of Pokrovsk.

While the defending army continues a heated resistance in Pokrovsk, Russia’s drones keep disrupting vital supply lines.

Ukraine applied to join the EU days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. It has been pushing to make progress on its bid, despite the challenges of Russia’s war and EU member Hungary blocking Kyiv from formally moving to the next phase of negotiations.

Today, Ukrainian military officials briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the situation at the front, with a focus on the Pokrovsk direction. "There are results in destroying the enemy. I want to specially commend the units of the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade,

By Ben Aris in Berlin The battle for Pokrovsk became intense on November 1. In the first part of the day it looked like the fall of the key logistics hub to Russia that could end the war was imminent.