Escalation in Eastern Ukraine: Battle for Pokrovsk. Russian military operations have intensified significantly around the key Ukrainian frontline town of Pokrovsk. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian infantry is massing near the city, intensifying pressure on Ukrainian defenses. The Ukrainian commander rejected Russian claims of encirclement in Pokrovsk, calling them propaganda. Pokrovsk serves as a crucial transport and supply hub linking major cities across the eastern Donetsk region. Capturing the town could open a route for Russia toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian troops in the area outnumber Ukrainian forces by a wide margin. Intelligence assessments describe the battle for Pokrovsk as entering a highly dynamic and dangerous phase. Analysts caution that Ukrainian positions around Pokrovsk are becoming increasingly strained under sustained Russian pressure. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]