Syrskyi: Russians Increase Their Troop Numbers in the Pokrovsk Sector to 155,000

The Russian forces in the Pokrovsk sector continue to expand their grouping, which now exceeds 155,000 troops.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported this during a meeting with journalists on Tuesday, December 9, Suspilne Donbas writes.

This number represents about 20% of the total occupying force of the aggressor state currently engaged in combat operations, estimated at around 710,000 personnel.

According to the Commander-in-Chief, the situation in the Pokrovsk direction remains difficult.

This area accounts for 40–50% of all Russian bombs used.

“At one point in the autumn, our forces were no longer present in Pokrovsk due to limited capabilities. However, since November 15, as a result of our offensive actions, we have been able to take control of about 13 km² of territory within Pokrovsk (out of the city’s total area of 29 km²). We continue to hold the northern part of the city roughly along the railway line. In addition, west of Pokrovsk, we have cleared and now control about 54 km²,” Oleksandr Syrskyi stated.

He noted that the defense of Ukrainian Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region has been ongoing for 16 months.

The Commander-in-Chief also reported that several days ago, servicemembers were withdrawn from positions 5–7 kilometers outside the city, where they had remained even as the enemy was slipping past them:

“These were positions we were no longer able to rotate, and the enemy was infiltrating past them. Continuing to hold them was no longer practical,” he said.

According to him, the neighboring town of Myrnohrad is not encircled – logistics there are difficult, but they are still functioning.

The military is organizing additional logistical routes to Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad to ensure an uninterrupted supply of all necessary resources to the units.

The active frontline now measures 1,218 kilometers. A month ago, it was 1,253 kilometers, but it has decreased thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, Syrskyi added.