Russia declares Pokrovsk “fully taken” after a prolonged battle, calling it a major step in the Donbas campaign

On 2 December 2025, Russia’s leadership said its forces had fully captured Pokrovsk, a strategic former Ukrainian logistics hub in Donetsk Oblast, after months of intense fighting and a slow encirclement-style campaign. President Vladimir Putin praised the operation as a significant victory that would enable further advances toward remaining Ukrainian-held cities in the region. From Moscow’s perspective, the fall of Pokrovsk marked a turning point in its stated objective of taking the remainder of Donetsk. Russian official messaging framed the event as a “liberation” achieved through grinding attrition and pressure that left the city heavily damaged and largely deserted. Russian defense media amplified images and video showing troops raising Russian flags and patrolling ruined streets, presenting these visuals as proof of control and momentum. Russia also tied Pokrovsk’s importance to the wider operational map: controlling it would help push north toward key urban centers and increase pressure on supply lines and adjacent regions. The claim was positioned as evidence that Russia’s campaign in eastern Ukraine was steadily advancing and that the outcome in Donetsk was becoming “inevitable.” MoofLife editorial note (status): Ukraine disputed Russia’s claim at the time and said its forces still operated in parts of the city; independent assessments also indicated the situation remained contested.