Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the operational situation on the front remains difficult, with Russian forces conducting offensive operations along virtually the entire line of contact.
According to him, on certain days the number of combat clashes reaches 300 — the highest number since the start of the war. Despite this, the Ukrainian army is holding back the pressure, "destroying the Kremlin's plans, not abandoning active defense tactics and effectively applying them," he said.
Syrskyi said that the strength of the Russian grouping has stood at approximately 710,000 troops for an extended period. At the same time, Russians are failing to increase this number despite active recruitment in Russia, because Ukrainian soldiers are "eliminating" a thousand occupiers killed and wounded daily.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces noted that in November, Russians managed to take control of some Ukrainian territories.
However, Syrskyi stated that on certain critical directions, the Defense Forces are conducting their own active operations and clearing settlements of the enemy. In particular, active operations continue in the area of the Pokrovsk-Myrnograd agglomeration. In Pokrovsk itself, over recent weeks, the Armed Forces have managed to retake control of approximately 16 square kilometers in the northern part of the city.
Syrskyi also reported that Russian occupiers are deploying additional reserve forces to the Pokrovsk direction.
"We are holding the defense of the Pokrovsk-Myrnograd agglomeration. Once again, I visited the military command bodies continuing our operation in this direction with a working trip. The situation remains difficult. The enemy is trying to increase pressure on our defensive positions, transferring additional reserves here," he wrote.
Following reports from commanders, Syrskyi said he "clarified tasks" for corps commanders and units holding the lines in this direction. Steps were determined to strengthen the defense, including maintaining the operation of important logistics routes, increasing the effectiveness of fire impact, improving coordination between units, and providing defenders with everything necessary.
"We remain committed to active defense tactics. This is about improving the operational position, conducting local operations to displace the enemy from certain territories, creating conditions for subsequent maneuvers of our forces," the military leader noted.
Ukrainian OSINT project Deepstate claims that the north of Pokrovsk is in a gray zone and that Myrnograd is also surrounded by it from the northwest. This means active combat operations are ongoing in this territory, and it's unknown who exactly controls it.
On 4 December, LIGA.net's sources in the 38th separate brigade of marines stated that Myrnograd is currently almost completely surrounded by Russian forces. The enemy is using many guided aerial bombs, and the situation in the direction is extremely difficult.
On 8 December, the Seventh Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces confirmed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops to more advantageous lines near Pokrovsk and Myrnograd. The command indicated this maneuver was carried out to preserve defenders' lives, improve the grouping's logistical support, and to straighten the front line.
Syrskyi reported that at one point in autumn 2024, there were no Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk. However, in mid-November, defenders conducted an offensive and are currently holding the north of the city.
On 10 December, the "East" grouping reported that defenders repelled a mechanized Russian assault in Pokrovsk, and the General Staff showed video with a burning Russian column.
