Pokrovsk offensive

Moscow and Kiev swapped 103 prisoners of war each on Saturday in a UAE-brokered deal, a rare moment of coordination between the warring sides as Russia pushes ahead in east Ukraine.

Russian forces are on the verge of capturing a significant city in eastern Ukraine, Pokrovsk, marking one of their fastest military advances since the beginning of the conflict. If successful, this capture will grant Russia a strategic advantage over the Donbas region.

Fierce fighting continues between Ukraine and Russia in the Donetsk region, with both sides reporting heavy clashes near the city of Pokrovsk. Russia's defense ministry stated that its forces had secured control of Novohrodivka, a village located 12 kilometers from Pokrovsk. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff reported that over 20 Russian attacks in the area were repelled in the past day.

Russia on Sunday said its forces had advanced in eastern Ukraine as Kiev reported deadly air attacks and urged the West to allow it to carry out more retaliatory strikes inside Russia.

Russian attack drones flying towards Ukraine also breached the airspace of NATO members Romania and Latvia, the countries said Sunday, triggering calls for a robust response from the military alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russian forces are advancing more rapidly in eastern Ukraine, capturing several square kilometers daily. This marks a significant shift in the pace of the offensive in the Donbas region, according to reports from Reuters and AFP.

The war in Ukraine is at a critical point, as the country’s military leadership, led by General Oleksandr Syrskyi, is implementing a bold plan to reverse the course of the conflict.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly secured new positions in Russia's Kursk region, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marks a significant expansion of Ukrainian-controlled territory along the border. While the president did not provide specific details, he confirmed that more Russian prisoners of war had been captured, potentially to be used in future exchanges.

Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in another night of reciprocal shelling. Ukrainian drones reportedly ignited several oil tanks in Russia's Rostov region, although it remains unclear if the "Glubokinskaya" oil depot was among the targets.

Since Tuesday morning, there has been intense activity around Belgorod, near Russia’s southern border with Ukraine. Russian Telegram channels, citing their security service connections, report that Ukrainian forces are attempting an incursion, having already attacked a border station in the area.

Russian forces have launched 53 attacks on Ukrainian positions along the Pokrovsk front in the Donetsk region, according to the Ukrainian military. The city remains a primary target of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.