Moscow [Russia], December 2: The Russian army announced it had taken control of the city of Pokrovsk after months of fighting, as well as the city of Vovchansk.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on December 1 that Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the frontline command center late on November 30 to hear a report on the war situation in Ukraine , according to TASS. Here, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that the country's forces had captured the city of Pokrovsk (Russian call Krasnoarmeysk) in Donetsk province and Vovchansk (Russian call Volchansk) in Kharkiv province.
Mr. Gerasimov and the commanders also reported to President Putin on the situation in other frontline areas.
Pokrovsk is Russia's main target on its way to controlling all of Donetsk and the wider Donbass . The city is a key logistics hub for supplying other regions.
The Russian military released video showing soldiers entering the city believed to be Pokrovsk and raising the Russian flag in the central square.
Russia's central battle group commander Valery Solodchuk reported that troops were carrying out a "clean-up" operation in Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Myrnohrad.
"This is an important direction. We all understand its importance. It will ensure the solution of the tasks that we set at the beginning of the special military operation," Mr. Putin said.
The leader assessed that the Russian army is holding the upper hand and advancing in almost all directions. He stressed that the immediate task is to create a security zone along the border to protect residential areas.
Mr Gerasimov said the army was determined to advance to capture the whole of Donbass, including Donetsk and Luhansk.
In addition, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov congratulated the soldiers on capturing Vovchansk, calling it a step towards future success. Vovchansk, located near the Russian border, has long been devastated by war.
The Ukrainian army on December 1 said nothing about the two cities of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk falling into Russian hands.
Source: Thanh Nieu Newspaper