Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Wednesday that Russian forces have markedly escalated their combat operations in eastern Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War Two. In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is advocating for an immediate ceasefire of at least 30 days.
Syrskyi noted on Telegram that despite the proclamations of a ceasefire for the May holidays, Russian forces have intensified their military actions, particularly in the Pokrovsk area. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the situation on the battlefield, including the level of Russian military activity. Since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have been attempting to encircle Pokrovsk, a key logistics center, but Ukrainian resistance has hindered their progress.
Moscow views the capture of Pokrovsk as crucial for its goal of annexing the entire Donetsk region of Ukraine, which it largely controls. Kyiv and its allies denounce Russia’s territorial claims as unlawful and accuse it of waging a colonial war.