Kyiv acknowledges the difficulty of the situation in Pokrovsk, and Moscow talks about the surrender of Ukrainian soldiers news

The Ukrainian army said – today, Saturday – that it has improved its positions in some neighborhoods of the besieged city of Pokrovsk, which Russian forces infiltrated, while Moscow says that Ukrainian soldiers surrendered in the same city.

The Seventh Rapid Response Corps said on Facebook that Kiev is increasing the number of its offensive forces in the region, adding that the situation is still “difficult and changing.”

He also stated that Ukrainian forces are also working to cut off the military logistical routes used by Moscow.

On the other hand, the state news agency TASS quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying – today, Saturday – that Ukrainian soldiers besieged by Russian forces in the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine have begun to surrender.

Last October, Russia launched more missiles at Ukraine than any other month since the beginning of 2023, as part of night attacks that particularly targeted the energy network, according to an analysis of Ukrainian data conducted by Agence France-Presse.

Russia launched 270 missiles last month, an increase of 46% compared to September, according to a daily compilation of data published by the Ukrainian Air Force.

This is the highest number of missiles launched into Ukraine within one month since the Ukrainian Air Force began publishing its daily reports on Russian strikes at the beginning of 2023.

These attacks caused power outages to tens of thousands of residents, while Moscow is targeting the Ukrainian electricity network for the fourth winter in a row as part of a strategy that, according to Kiev and its allies, aims to “exhaust the civilian population.”

Intensify the blows

In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of seeking to sow “chaos” and exert “psychological pressure” by intensifying its strikes on the energy grid.

As in previous winters, the Ukrainian authorities imposed periodic power outages in all regions of the country, including the capital, Kiev, throughout the month of October to deal with the shortage of supplies.

In October, Russia launched 5,298 long-range drones during its night attacks, according to Ukrainian Air Force data, a number that reflects a decline of about 6% compared to September, but remains close to record numbers.

Kiev responded by carrying out strikes targeting Russian oil stores and refineries in an attempt to dry up the energy revenues that finance the Kremlin’s war effort. These attacks, in recent months, led to a rise in fuel prices in Russia.