Ukraine war briefing: Ukraine says its troops still holding out in embattled Pokrovsk

Ukraine's Troops Still Holding Out in Embattled Pokrovsk Amid Ongoing Russian Pressure.

A comprehensive operation to destroy and dislodge enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing, according to Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The city, dubbed "the gateway to Donetsk", has been a focal point of intense fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces for over a year.

Despite the challenges, Ukrainian military officials claim that their troops are still holding out in the embattled city. In a recent Facebook post, Kyiv's 7th Rapid Response Corps reported an improvement in its positions in some districts, with the number of assault troops being increased to address the "difficult and dynamic" situation.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian special forces to fly soldiers into Pokrovsk via helicopter. All 11 Ukrainians on board were killed in the attack, highlighting the risks faced by those attempting to enter the city.

Data released by Ukraine's air force shows that Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in October - 270, up 46% from the previous month. These strikes have targeted Ukraine's fragile energy grid for the fourth winter running, leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

The situation remains dire, with recent attacks on civilians and infrastructure further exacerbating the crisis. A Russian strike set ablaze a shop in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, killing two people and injuring several others. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone attack damaged and set ablaze a tanker and infrastructure at a major oil terminal in Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse.

Despite these challenges, there are signs of cooperation with European countries on energy issues. Russian energy company Gazprom's average daily natural gas supplies to Europe via the TurkStream undersea pipeline rose 5% in October from previous months.

In other news, Germany's defence minister expressed confidence that its ruling coalition can agree on a new model of military service in time for it to come into effect next year as planned. This move is aimed at boosting the number of recruits and reservists, given security concerns over Russia.

omg ukraine troops r still holding out in pokrovsk i know its super tough 2 keep fighting but ukrainians r not gonna give up no way!!! russian forces might have the guns but ukrainian soldiers got heart and they're like "hey we cant let our homes be taken" meanwhile europe is all like "lets work together on energy" thats a good sign 4 peace. german defence minister seems confident about their new military model lets keep fingers crossed it works out for them too

I'm just so worried about Ukraine right now. It's been going on for like, forever! 270 missiles in October alone? That's insane! And to think they had an attempt to fly soldiers into Pokrovsk via helicopter and all those were killed... it's heartbreaking.

I don't get why Russia can't just talk to Ukraine about their issues instead of fighting them. It's not like they're going to solve anything by destroying cities and hurting people. And the civilians caught in the middle are the ones who suffer most, you know?

But hey, at least Germany is trying to do something about it... increasing their military recruits and stuff. Maybe if more countries work together, we can find a way to make peace happen sooner rather than later? Fingers crossed!

man this situation with ukraine is getting soooo intense 270 missiles fired by russia in october alone? that's just insane can't even begin to imagine what it'd be like living there with all that pressure on every corner... meanwhile germany trying to boost its military service model, hoping to counterbalance russia's might and what about those ukrainian special forces who tried to fly in via helicopter? so brave but also super high risk anyways hope the situation in ukraine can get better soon

I'm worried about those soldiers risking their lives to try and reach Pokrovsk... 11 Ukrainians killed by Russian forces trying to help their own people . Meanwhile, I heard Gazprom is doing more energy supplies via the TurkStream, hope it brings some stability for Europe...

I'm still not sure why people are complaining about Platform's moderation policies I mean, think about it - we get to see all these breaking news updates in real-time without any filters or bias It's like having a front-row seat to global events! Plus, the fact that Ukraine's troops are still holding out against Russian pressure is super inspiring - those guys are brave And let's be real, 270 missiles being fired at Ukraine in one month is just straight-up crazy I'm not saying it's easy or something, but Platform's just trying to keep us informed and connected

its so sad what's happening in ukraine i mean, 270 missiles fired in october? thats crazy! its not just the people fighting, but the energy grid too, its like russia is trying to suffocate them economically and physically and those ppl who tried to fly into pokrovsk via helicopter? that's just so tragic. i feel bad for ukraine and their ppl, they deserve peace and stability

You know what's crazy about this whole situation? It's how we can't help but compare our own struggles with others. Like, just yesterday I was worried about my internet being slow, and now I'm reading about Ukraine fighting for their lives.

But seriously, it's all about perspective. Russia's military might seems overwhelming, but the Ukrainian troops are still holding on. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we may be outnumbered and outgunned, but we won't give up." That takes courage, you know?

And then there's Europe, trying to balance their own security concerns with their commitment to cooperation. They're showing us that even in the face of adversity, diplomacy can still prevail.

The thing is, every day, we have our own battles to fight – not always on the battlefield, but in life itself. We struggle with our own demons, and sometimes it feels like the odds are stacked against us. But what if we could tap into that same resilience? What if we learned to hold on, just like those Ukrainian troops?

The point is, we can't help but compare ourselves to others, but at the end of the day, our struggles are our own to face. So, how do you choose to respond when faced with adversity? Do you let it break you, or do you draw strength from within?

man this whole conflict in Ukraine is so messed up ...like how can we just sit back and watch these innocent civilians get caught in the middle of all this? Pokrovsk city is literally the gateway to Donetsk and it's like a war zone out there, no peace whatsoever . The fact that Russian forces have already thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian special forces to fly soldiers in via helicopter just highlights how dire things are on the ground.

And can we talk about the energy situation for a sec? Like, Russia firing a record number of missiles at Ukraine and still somehow managing to send out 5% more gas to Europe? It's like they're trying to strangle Ukraine but also make a profit off it at the same time . But hey I guess that's just how the system works, right?

But seriously though, what's the point of all this? Are we really going to keep fueling these fires until someone gets hurt? It's like we're watching a train wreck in slow motion and can't look away . Germany trying to create a new model of military service is just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound...we need to find a way to address the root causes of this conflict, not just patch things over with more security measures .

Ukraine's situation is getting more intense every day . Those guys are still holding out in Pokrovsk despite all the Russian pressure. I mean, 270 missiles in one month? That's insane! They need some serious backup from Europe ASAP.

I'm also worried about those special forces trying to fly into the city by helicopter. It's like a scene from a war movie, but not exactly what you want to see happen in real life .

On a more positive note, I saw that Gazprom is increasing gas supplies to Europe, so hopefully we can get back to some kind of normalcy on energy prices soon . And Germany's defense minister sounds confident about their new military service plan, which is good for the country's security.

It's like we're living in a war zone right now, and it feels like there's no end in sight . I just hope everyone stays safe, especially those civilians caught in the crossfire .

its crazy how these 2 sides are dragging out this conflict...

* Ukraine's troops have been holding on for over a year
* Russia fired 270 missiles in October alone - that's like, insane
* The number of energy grid attacks by Russia has increased by 46% from last month
* But, on the other hand, Gazprom is actually increasing its natural gas supplies to Europe via TurkStream by 5%
* Germany's defence minister is optimistic about agreeing on a new model of military service - that's good news for recruitment
* The situation in Pokrovsk remains dire, with civilians and infrastructure getting caught in the crossfire
* Ukraine's air force says they've been working hard to improve their positions in the city
* Russia just thwarted a helicopter attack by Ukrainian special forces - it's getting personal
* The humanitarian impact is huge - hundreds of thousands without power, and 2 people killed in a Dnipropetrovsk shop fire
* A Ukrainian drone attack on Tuapse destroyed an oil terminal - this conflict is having real-world consequences

Russia has now fired over 1.8 million missiles at Ukraine since the start of the war...

I'm getting worried about all this energy business... Gazprom's just gonna keep cranking out gas like there's no tomorrow Meanwhile, Ukraine's still struggling to keep their power on, and now they're having to drone-attack Russian infrastructure? That's not a solution, that's just escalation And don't even get me started on the Black Sea port incident - what's next? We'll have drones flying everywhere... It's all just a bit too much for my taste

Pokrovsk is like this crazy soap opera right now - one day they're pushing back hard against Russian forces, next day they lose a bunch of guys in a helicopter attack... I'm just worried about these civilians getting caught in the crossfire . And can we talk about the energy situation? It's like Russia and Ukraine are playing this delicate game of supply and demand with Europe's power needs . But hey, at least Germany's defense minister seems optimistic about their new military service model ... gotta wonder how that'll play out though

man this ukraine situation is getting so dire i feel bad for the people stuck in pokrovsk, like what's the point of fighting if it's just gonna keep happening? but at the same time, i get why they're trying to defend their city - it's like a big ol' gateway thingy... anyway, 270 missiles launched by russia in one month is wild and those civilians getting hurt is just not right. hope everyone can get some support and power back on soon

omg u no i just got back from eastern europe with my bf and we literally drove through some areas that looked like war zones they have these huge bunkers everywhere in case of an invasion i was like totally shook i dont know how ppl living there are even coping rn my bf is actually thinking of joining the military to fight against russia idk if im more proud or scared for him

The situation in Pokrovsk is becoming increasingly dire . It's heartening to see the Ukrainian troops holding their ground, but the Russian pressure is mounting, and I fear for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire . The recent data on missile strikes is particularly alarming - 270 missiles fired in October alone is a staggering number .

On a separate note, the cooperation between Ukraine and European countries on energy issues is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation . Russia's efforts to undermine the global energy infrastructure will not succeed, and I'm optimistic that the EU will continue to stand strong against these attempts to destabilize the region .

As for Germany's plans to reform its military service model, it's a step in the right direction . Boosting recruitment numbers will undoubtedly help bolster their defense capabilities and provide them with an added layer of resilience in the face of global security threats .

I'm really worried about Ukraine right now. Those Russian missiles are just pouring down like rain and it's having a huge impact on civilians and infrastructure . The fact that Gazprom is still pumping out gas to Europe despite the war is not exactly reassuring either ️. I mean, can't we all just talk things through instead of resorting to violence?

On a more positive note, it's great to see Germany taking steps to boost its military readiness . More recruits and reservists will definitely help with security concerns in the region. And hey, at least there are signs of cooperation on energy issues – we should be working together instead of fighting each other .

It's just heartbreaking to think about all those innocent people caught in the middle of this conflict . I hope a peaceful resolution is found soon and everyone can go back to living their lives without fear

Ukraine's army still holding out in Pokrovsk? That's so inspiring ... I mean, who wouldn't want to be stuck in a war zone with no end in sight? And nice job on trying to fly in some special forces via helicopter, that was super original . Guess they didn't count on Russian air defenses being on point.

On a more serious note, 270 missiles fired at Ukraine in October? That's just crazy... I mean, who needs power and energy when you can have a good missile launch? And those civilian casualties are really adding up. Russia, you're really showing off your 'diplomacy' skills .

It's actually kind of cool that Germany is trying to step up its military game, maybe they'll finally join the 21st century . A new model of military service could be just what the doctor ordered for those security concerns over Russia... or it could just lead to a bunch more bureaucratic red tape .

Pokrovsk is like a big ol' magnet drawing everyone's attention . It's been over a year now and still they're fighting . I feel for those Ukrainian troops trying to hold on against all odds . 270 missiles fired in October? That's insane! Russia is like, "I'm gonna keep hitting you till you give up" .

But you know what's even crazier? The number of civilians getting hurt and losing power . It's not just about the military; it's about people's lives. I hope those in charge can get a grip on this situation soon .

Ukraine's troops are just delaying the inevitable... I mean, how long can they hold out with all these Russian missiles coming down on them? And that helicopter attack? Unbelievable, 11 Ukrainians killed like nothing's happening. The fact that Russia fired a record number of missiles in October is just a testament to their superior firepower... meanwhile, Ukraine's energy grid is still crumbling under the pressure. It's only a matter of time before they're left without power for good. And what's with these European countries and Gazprom trying to boost their gas supplies? Just more politics as usual... and Germany's defence minister thinks they can just agree on some new military model? Please, it'll never happen