Moscow: Russia has issued a stark warning to Ukrainian forces stationed in the contested cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, claiming that troops in both locations are effectively encircled and have no chance of survival unless they surrender. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian units are trapped in “cauldrons,” with Russian forces advancing rapidly and leaving limited options for the defenders.

Pokrovsk, often referred to as the “gateway to Donetsk,” has been a primary target of Russian advances since 2024, as Moscow seeks to capture the entirety of Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ukrainian forces continue to hold roughly 10% of Donbas, or about 5,000 square kilometers, according to Russian estimates. Kupiansk, meanwhile, has become another focal point, with Russian force

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