Ukrainian troops say they have maintained defensive positions in the center of the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk and blocked Russia from flooding the area with more soldiers.

Ukrainian assault groups have targeted Russian forces in the heart of the devastated city and cleared the area around the main train station, a teaching college and a central square of Russian soldiers, Ukraine's 7th Air Assault Corps said in a statement on Sunday.

"Our positions in the city center remain intact, small arms battles continue, and the enemy is unable to gain a foothold," the corps said in a post to messaging app Telegram.

Why It Matters

Pokrovsk was dubbed a "fortress" settlement in the Donetsk region, key to Ukrainian lines in the east and connected to other cities forming the backbone of Ukr

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