Defensive positions fortified by Asov troops in Pokrovsk at 10:34
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the battle in the Donetsk region remains intense and contested, with Pokrovsk being a major focal point. Despite over 18 months of fighting, Russian forces have been unable to seize Pokrovsk, as recent advances northeast of the city have not translated into capturing the urban position.
Ukrainian forces have managed to stabilize the front in and around Pokrovsk and Dobropillya, clearing Russian infiltrators from several settlements. Ukrainian counterattacks have been ongoing, disrupting Russian advances and inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces in the wider Donetsk region.
Recent localized gains by Ukrainian troops north of Hrodivka indicate a continuing offensive. Russia, however, continues multiple attacks around Pokrovsk and adjacent areas, but strong Ukrainian resistance and counterattacks prevent significant territorial gains.
The battle for Donetsk is protracted and costly, with Ukrainian defenders strongly entrenched in fortified positions. Ukrainian leadership rejects Russian demands to cede territory in Donbas, considering such concessions strategically and symbolically unacceptable.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed that peace cannot be imposed on Ukraine, it must be achieved together with the government in Kyiv. This stance aligns with the ongoing Ukrainian resistance in the Donetsk region.
Former German ambassador to Russia, Rüdiger von Fritsch, does not believe in a peace process with Russia and considers a territorial concession by Ukraine as a "fatal surrender" of existing international law. Germany, like the US, supports the goal of ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Russia, on the other hand, hopes that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will improve relations with the USA. However, the conflict in Donetsk continues, with Pokrovsk remaining under Ukrainian control.
In a related tech news, Downdetector, which tracks service disruptions, registered nearly 7,500 reports of Telegram issues throughout the day, with most users reporting problems with audio and video calls. Russia has reportedly conducted initial tests to shut down video and audio calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, with WhatsApp receiving over 3,300 complaints, peaking between 9:30 AM and 1 PM, with users across Russia reporting call failures or disrupted audio.
As the conflict continues, both sides remain resolute, with Ukraine holding onto Pokrovsk and Russia persisting in its attempts to gain control of the city. The international community continues to watch closely, with many expressing support for Ukraine's resistance and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
- The international community, through strong support for Ukraine's resistance, has voiced its call for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region, while simultaneously raising concerns about Russia's attempts to shut down communication services like Telegram and WhatsApp.
- In light of the continuous battle for Donetsk, particularly the resilient Ukrainian hold on Pokrovsk, various policy discussions are emerging within the international community, encompassing everything from community policy, employment policy, and general news, to politics and war-and-conflicts.
