Ukrainian forces block Russian advance on a key eastern town

By Andrew E. Kramer

Reinforced Ukrainian defenders in a key location on the front have halted what had been relentless Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, according to soldiers and battlefield maps. But Russia continued to advance elsewhere, and pressed on Saturday with long-range bombardment of more distant cities.

After a night of explosions and rattling antiaircraft fire in the capital, Kyiv, debris from Iranian-designed attack drones was discovered in the city’s government quarter, near the parliament building.

It was unclear whether the drones had targeted the building or were shot down in its vicinity. Falling debris, from the exploding drones or antiaircraft missiles, started a grass fire. No damage was reported to the parliament.

In the east, a Russian offensive toward the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, which has become a focal point of the war in recent months, has stalled along one key section of the front for more than a week, even as advances continued elsewhere, soldiers fighting in the area said. Battlefield maps based on open sources such as satellite images and videos posted online also showed the halt.

Still, the fighting in villages and fields east of the town, which is a logistical hub for Ukraine’s defense of the eastern Donbas region, remains fluid, and there was no indication that the large Russian force gathered in the area had abandoned its goal of advancing toward the town.

In a risky, surprise effort to ease pressure on troops on the eastern front, Ukraine last month launched an attack into Russia over a thinly defended stretch of the Russian border, quickly capturing more territory inside Russia than Russia has in nearly a year of its offensive in eastern Ukraine. But speaking at an economic forum Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said the Russian army would not divert forces from Ukraine’s Donbas region, which he called the army’s “first priority,” to defend Russia land.

Ukraine has reinforced its troops in the area around Pokrovsk with soldiers from two brigades, both of which posted videos and statements showing their presence near the city in the past three days. At least one brigade had been moved from another section of the front line, potentially weakening defenses there.