Russia Says It Seized Key Eastern Stronghold Pokrovsk; Ukraine Denies Claim

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits a command post of Russia’s joint force grouping at an unidentified location, in this still image taken from video released on Dec. 1, 2025. Kremlin/via ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin said Russian troops have captured Pokrovsk, a heavily contested, strategically important city that Ukrainian forces had held for nearly two years.The Kremlin announced the purported capture in a transcript published on Dec. 1, which detailed Putin’s being briefed by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. In his report, dated Nov. 30, Gerasimov said that Russian forces had gained full control of Pokrovsk on the eastern Donbas front as well as Vovchansk on the northeastern frontline.