Ukraine wipes out over 100 Russians as disastrous Kremlin assaults go wrong | World | News

As Putin’s forces continued to advance towards Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian army reportedly destroyed more than 100 Russian soldiers in one day. The city of Donbas came under intense attacks as the Kremlin desperately tried to take full control of the urban settlement.

The besieged city, known as the “gateway to Donetsk”, is an important transportation and logistics hub on Ukraine’s eastern front. Putin’s forces have been trying to break the will of his stubborn defenders for more than 20 months. Russian commanders concentrated a force of approximately 155,000 soldiers in the Pokrovsk region.

Ukraine’s high command sent reinforcements to the city, including special forces units, to assist in its defense.

It was reported that the Kiev army repelled 58 Russian attacks on Pokrovsk on Monday, causing heavy losses.

Eastern Group army commanders say 136 Russians were killed in the failed attacks.

The Ukrainian military claims that its troops still control the northern part of Pokrovsk, conducting search-and-strike operations to capture Russian soldiers. Violent clashes continue in the city and the situation is highly volatile.

Ukrainian troops are also holding defensive lines near Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region and destroying Russian forces trying to approach the city.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that geolocated images released on December 22 showed Ukrainian forces recently advancing along the E50 Pokrovsk-Pavlohrad highway northwest of Pokrovsk.

The think tank marks much of Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk as a “grey zone,” a no-man’s land over which neither side has permanent control.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff said Tuesday it was withdrawing its troops from the eastern town of Siversk.

The capture of Siversk brings Russia closer to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the last remaining “fortress belt” cities in the industrial Donetsk region still in Ukrainian hands.