Russian army disaster as Ukraine wipes out 30,000 troops in battle for eastern city

Ukraine"s army has inflicted massive casualties on Putin's forces, as they battle to take a key eastern city. Intense fighting for Pokrovsk has raged for 21 months, and appears to be reaching a climax.

The city is a vital logistics and transport hub for Kyiv's army on its eastern hub, and has been described as "gateway to Donetsk". Its loss would be a major blow for Ukraine's army and would bring Vladimir Putin's goal of controlling the entire Donbas one step closer. Russia's army has amassed 50,000 troops in the area and stepped up its attacks in a desperate bid to seize the city once and for all before the winter sets in.

Last week, Ukraine's army rushed in special forces to beef up its defences in the besieged city, which had been infiltrated by some 300 Russian troops.

Fierce fighting was reported around the railway station and industrial zone, with the city's capture seemingly imminent.

However, the Russian offensive appears to have momentarily stalled, as Putin's forces regather having sustained massive casualties.

Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed the situation had stabilised, and that Putin's forces had only succeeded in advancing in a few places.

"The intensity of the enemy's attacks has indeed decreased," he said. "This does not mean that they want to take Pokrovsk any less. Right now, the Russians have gathered 50,000 troops there, but they know that since October they have lost a similar number-around 30,000 soldiers."

The commander-in-chief also noted that the 425th Assault Regiment had been deployed to Pokrovsk and "is operating very effectively."

Another unit currently operating on the Pokrovsk front is the 7th Airborne Assault Corps. They claimed to have eliminated 236 Russians and wounded another 136 during the course of the last seven days.

The unit also destroyed a tank, 3 armoured combat vehicles, and 23 units of automobiles and motorcycles.

In an update to their Telegram channel, the 7th Corps wrote: "The enemy continues to increase the number of assaults on Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovsk agglomeration.

"Last week, the Russians attacked our units 132 times. This is almost 20% more than the previous week. The elimination of Russians in the northern part of Pokrovsk continues. The most intense fighting is currently taking place in the industrial zone.

"At the same time, the enemy is trying to concentrate efforts in other areas of the city and on the western outskirts for further advancement towards Hryshyne, which is northwest of Pokrovsk."