Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the defence of Pokrovsk is a “priority”, as elite special forces were deployed to the embattled town on the eastern front line.
Ukrainian army sources told the BBC that special forces from military intelligence and assault groups were being used as regular infantry to protect supply lines to troops holding the town in the Donbas region.
There have been growing reports of Russian advances around the strategic town to the west of Donetsk. Ukraine has denied claims their forces were surrounded.
Moscow wants Kyiv to cede the entire Donbas region as part of a peace deal, including the parts it currently does not control
