Vladimir Putin has celebrated Russia's total capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, calling it a significant victory and emphasizing that it will help achieve their goals in the war. "I want to thank you. This is a significant achievement. We all understand how important it is," stated the Russian president in a video released on Monday night.
However, on Tuesday, the Ukrainian army denied that Russian forces had completed the capture of the city. "Search and elimination operations of the enemy in urban areas continue in Pokrovsk," stated the group responsible for the area. According to the statement, the Russians attempted to raise their flag in a district of the city as a propaganda maneuver to declare it conquered and then "hastily fled."
Meanwhile, the United States is accelerating efforts to reach a peace agreement. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet in Moscow with Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine Denies Russian Capture of Pokrovsk
The operational group of the Ukrainian Army responsible for the eastern zone of the front denied on Tuesday that Russian forces had completed the capture of the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as reported by Efe.
"Search and elimination operations of the enemy in urban areas continue in Pokrovsk," reads a note published on social media by the operational group of the Ukrainian Army responsible for the area.
According to the statement, the Russians tried to hoist a tricolor flag in a district of the city as a propaganda maneuver to declare it conquered. "After that, they fled hastily," adds the Ukrainian military note.
The statement also mentions that Kiev's forces continue to hold their defensive positions in the town of Mirnograd, a satellite city of Pokrovsk. Kiev's troops are working to open new routes for evacuations, rotations, and supplies to relieve Russian pressure in this part of the front, the note adds.
Witkoff's Plane Enters Russian Airspace
A Bombardier Global 7500 jet registered in the United States and previously used by special envoy Steve Witkoff entered Russian airspace from Latvia on Tuesday, according to flight tracking data. The plane took off from Miami, as reported by Reuters.
Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss a possible path to end the war in Ukraine.
Russia Clears 92 Towns in Kursk with the Help of North Korean Military
Russian forces and emergency services, with the assistance of North Korean military engineers, have cleared 92 towns in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine, as reported by the governor of the region, Alexander Jinshtein, to President Vladimir Putin, as reported by Efe.
"To date, 92 towns have been cleared of explosive objects, and a total of nearly 2.7 million explosive objects have been neutralized during this period," the governor told the head of state, according to the video of the meeting released by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The assistance of North Korean military personnel was crucial for Russian troops to expel Ukrainian forces that invaded the Kursk region in August 2024 and occupied part of its territory for just over six months.
Witkoff's Arrival Marks an "Important Day for Peace," According to Dmitryev
Kremlin's economic envoy, Kirill Dmitryev, stated today that the arrival of President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Russia is an "important day for peace" in Ukraine.
"Important day for peace: the team that made President Trump's peace agreement in Gaza a reality will be in Moscow to advance Trump's peace agenda in Ukraine," he wrote on X.
Dmitryev, considered one of the architects of the peace plan presented by the United States two weeks ago, made this comment hours before the meeting between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian Army Claims Control of Northern Part of Pokrovsk
Ukrainian troops maintain control of the northern part of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, as reported to Reuters on Tuesday by the military unit fighting in the city.
The 7th Rapid Response Corps of airborne assault troops stated that they carried out attacks in the southern part of the city, where Russian troops are predominant.
The Ukrainian unit's statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated what his commanders told him was the total capture of Pokrovsk by Russian forces.
Russia Damages Another Energy Infrastructure in Odesa
A new Russian drone attack damaged another energy infrastructure and an administrative building in the Odesa region last night, as reported on social media by the region's governor, Oleg Kiper. "Critical infrastructures are operating on generators," Kiper stated on his Telegram channel, as reported by Efe.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force report, Russia launched 62 long-distance drones against Ukraine since last night, of which 39 were neutralized by Ukrainian defenses.
Another 20 drones were not intercepted and hit eight different unspecified locations in Ukraine, according to the country's Air Force.
Witkoff and Kushner to Meet Putin in Moscow This Afternoon
President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss a possible path to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump has reiterated his desire to end the conflict, but his efforts so far—including a summit with Putin in Alaska in August—have not yet achieved peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the meeting would take place in the second half of Tuesday but refused to comment on Russia's "red lines," stating that diplomacy through public statements was not helpful.
Ukraine Attacks Energy Facilities in Russian Region of Orio
Ukraine has attacked energy facilities with drones, causing a fire in the Russian region of Orio, as reported by the governor of the region in the Russian Federation, Andrei Klchikov.
"Last night, the Orio region was attacked again by drones, causing a fire in fuel and energy facilities in the Livni district," wrote the regional authority on his Telegram channel. According to Klichkov, the attack did not cause casualties, and emergency services are working on the affected facilities.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that during the past night, anti-aircraft defenses shot down 45 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over eight regions of the country, including Orio and the annexed Crimea peninsula.
Putin Celebrates the Conquest of Pokrovsk
President Vladimir Putin celebrated what his commanders told him was Russia's total capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, calling it a significant victory after a prolonged campaign and indicating that it would help Moscow achieve its broader goals in the war.
Russia, using the Soviet name Krasnoarmeysk for the city, has faced fierce Ukrainian resistance in its battle since mid-2024 to take Pokrovsk, which was previously a strategic logistical center for the Ukrainian army.
"I want to thank you. This is an important direction. We all understand how important it is," said Putin—dressed in military uniform and seated in a command center—to the military leadership in a video released by the Kremlin on Monday night.
"This will ensure future solutions to the tasks we initially set at the beginning of the special military operation," Putin added.