Ukraine's army chief said Thursday that Russian troops are intensifying its attacks on the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk and that they are strengthening its defences to repel the attacks - but that the military's main priority is to save the lives of its soldiers.

Pokrovsk was dubbed a "fortress" settlement, key to Ukrainian lines in the east and connected to other cities forming the backbone of Ukraine's defense in the east. Russia kicked off a push to take Pokrovsk in the summer of 2024.

Russia has deployed about 11,000 troops in an effort to encircle the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces has reported. Details: The 7th Corps said that in their area of responsibility,

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Wednesday that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in two key eastern cities of Ukraine and offered to negotiate a deal for their surrender. Ukrainian military officials vigorously denied the claim.

Ukrainian forces are struggling to fend off intensifying Russian advances on the eastern city of Pokrovsk, the military and open-source analysts said on Wednesday.

Russia has intensified its offensive in Ukraine's east and the situation around the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast has noticeably worsened in recent weeks, as small Russian groups have begun infiltrating the city.

Military experts and Russian pro-war bloggers have dismissed what they say are inaccurate claims by Russia’s top general that Kyiv’s forces were encircled near the embattled cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk,