December 17, 2025

Latest from the War Desk:

Ukrainian forces have regained control over 16 square kilometers (6.2 square miles) in the northern part of Pokrovsk, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Dec. 17 following his participation in the 32nd Ramstein-format Defense Contact Group meeting.

“Despite months of Russian pressure, our units are holding the line and gradually reclaiming lost ground. In Pokrovsk, we have returned control over 16 square kilometers of territory,” Syrskyi said on Telegram.

He added that Russian forces have been attempting to capture Pokrovsk for over 17 months, but Ukrainian troops continue to hold their defensive positions and seize the initiative.

In addition to gains within the city, Ukrainian forces also liberated 56 square kilometers (21.6 square miles) of territory near the settlements of Hryshyne, Kotlyne, and Udachne, located west of Pokrovsk, he said.

Syrskyi said the situation on the front line remains “difficult,” as Russia has concentrated up to 710,000 troops for its ongoing strategic offensive operations.

Control of territory inside Pokrovsk — potentially the largest city to fall since Bakhmut in 2023 — has been highly politicized by both Kyiv and Moscow. In reality, because of the saturation of the battlefield with drones and Russia’s use of infiltration tactics, assessing control accurately and independently is increasingly difficult.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-live-2025-12-17