Just as he is about to spar with the US over peace, Vladimir Putin last night appeared to claim an important victory on the battlefield.
He was quoted by Russian news agencies as praising the capture of the key eastern city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk as enabling the military to proceed with “offensive tasks”.
Ukraine is incapable of reacting to Russia’s military, he added. His claims have not been independently verified.
Earlier in the day, the Kremlin said Putin was told during a visit of a command post “of the liberation” of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
Zvezda TV, which is the official channel of the Russian defence ministry, shared videos on Telegram allegedly showing Russian troops in the city.
The battle for Pokrovsk has been a focal point of the war in recent months, with many observers viewing the eastern city as a strategically vital location on the battlefield.
The capture claims come at a convenient time for Russia, as they are increasing Russian leverage and the pressure on Ukraine in discussions on ending the war.
While Russia spoke of “liberation”, it’s important to remember that it’s internationally recognised as a Ukrainian city and not part of Russia.
Here’s a look at the most recent outline of the frontline around Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine…
