Ukrainians raise flag to show BBC the fight goes on in city claimed by Russia

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete December 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Despite Russian President Putin's claim, Ukraine asserts it still controls part of Pokrovsk, a key eastern city in the Donbas region. Ukrainian soldiers displayed their flag in the north of the city for the BBC to demonstrate their continued presence. The battle for Pokrovsk, a former logistics hub, has been ongoing for nearly 18 months, with Russia slowly advancing from the south. Ukrainian commanders coordinate strikes on Russian positions and acknowledge losing ground but maintain they hold the north up to the railway line. Russia has been using small teams to infiltrate Ukrainian lines, but Ukrainian forces say they are quickly identified. Ukraine aims to show the world it will not give up its territory to maintain international support.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pokrovsk ×480% Vladimir Putin ×2100% Ukraine ×5100% Russia ×3100%

Keywords

ukraine 100% pokrovsk 100% russia 90% ukrainian flag 80% losing ground 70% donbas 70% russian advances 70% military 60% front line 60% command post 50%