Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russians out
The Independent|September 24, 2024
Now facing constant bombing, soldiers and residents in the eastern Donetsk city of Pokrovsk tell Askold Krushelnycky about the drawn-out siege they are bracing themselves for
Askold Krushelnycky
Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russians out

The city of Pokrovsk, regarded as the key to controlling Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, has been the prize Vladimir Putin’s troops have sought for months – one for which Moscow has already sacrificed thousands of its troops.

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, seizing the entire Donetsk region, which has seen the most prolonged and bloodiest battles in Europe since the Second World War, has been the Kremlin’s oft-declared top priority.

Pokrovsk has stuck obstinately in Putin’s craw and in recent months, massive resources have been concentrated to try to break Ukrainian defences. Moscow’s forces have mounted often suicidal infantry assaults, without regard for casualties.

A senior military source of The Independent confirmed that elements of at least three experienced brigades, including the Azov and Kara-Dah brigades, had been deployed to stiffen the Ukrainian forces around Pokrovsk which, he said, are outnumbered 10 to one by their enemy in some places.

The source, a colonel connected to the Ukrainian general staff, said heavy battles are raging close to Pokrovsk along a line of small towns like Myrnohrad, Novohrodivka, Seldovo, Ukrainsk and Hirnyak to the southeast of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove and Vuhledar to the south.

Heavy equipment is being used to dig a crescent of defences – trenches and other fortifications – that will weave through or between those towns and villages. He said mines, some sown by drones, would disrupt Russia’s “human-wave” assaults.

The Ukrainian General Staff said yesterday that the fiercest battles are around the small town of Kurakhove, where Russian ground and air forces have launched scores of attacks each day for the past week, using their, now-routine, human wave tactics of sending men, sometimes backed by tanks and armoured personnel carriers. Most civilians have evacuated from the area but one person was killed in Kurakhove on Sunday by Russian artillery.

Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2024 de The Independent.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2024 de The Independent.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE INDEPENDENTVer todo
Fiji claim historic Cardiff win to deepen Welsh crisis
The Independent

Fiji claim historic Cardiff win to deepen Welsh crisis

Wales slumped to a record-equalling 10th successive Test match defeat as Fiji claimed a 24-19 Autumn Nations Series victory in Cardiff.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Bold Scotland fail to stop steady Springbok charge
The Independent

Bold Scotland fail to stop steady Springbok charge

Scotland produced a spirited display but lacked the guile to get over the line as they went down to a 32-15 defeat by world champions South Africa at Murrayfield. Three first-half tries – two from Makazole Mapimpi either side of an opportunist score from Thomas du Toit – gave the Boks a 19-9 interval lead after the Scots had the double setback of a 20-minute red card for Scott Cummings and a Ben White try chalked off.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Arsenal stop rot at Chelsea but Liverpool real winners
The Independent

Arsenal stop rot at Chelsea but Liverpool real winners

One of those games where, as entertaining as it ended up, it’s hard not to look to those who weren’t on the pitch. That isn’t even Bukayo Saka, who had to go off injured. It is, of course, Liverpool, with the leaders having extended the gap over both Manchester City and Arsenal this weekend.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Emotional Cavendish bows out with a trademark finish
The Independent

Emotional Cavendish bows out with a trademark finish

Sir Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in his final race in professional cycling yesterday, bringing to an end a glittering career that will see him immortalised in the history of the sport.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
BUY NOW PANIC LATER
The Independent

BUY NOW PANIC LATER

From tech to takeaways, if you don't have to pay it all now, why not splash out? Ellie Muir looks at the payment service Klarna and how it has enticed her and millions of others

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Joy, pain and awkward truth behind every climber's tale
The Independent

Joy, pain and awkward truth behind every climber's tale

Everest is there for the conquering but Rod Ardehali finds distressing stories of overcrowding, pollution and locals who disappear from view after helping climbers reach their dream

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
It's not just bad weather that challenges our winemakers
The Independent

It's not just bad weather that challenges our winemakers

November is a time when many vineyards across the northern hemisphere can let out a deep sigh of relief.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
There's no benefit in playing chicken with Trump on trade
The Independent

There's no benefit in playing chicken with Trump on trade

This week Rachel Reeves will use her Mansion House speech in the City of London to \"promote free and open trade between nations\".

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Dutch police use hologram to hunt sex worker's killer
The Independent

Dutch police use hologram to hunt sex worker's killer

In Amsterdam's red light district, a hologram of a woman who was brutally murdered 15 years ago stares back at you through a window. The life-sized rendering of 19-year-old sex worker Bernadett “Betty” Szabo leans forward and breathes on the glass, unveiling the word “help”.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Russia losing 1,500 soldiers a day, claims UK army chief
The Independent

Russia losing 1,500 soldiers a day, claims UK army chief

Daily death toll at its highest since the start of war in Ukraine

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024