Name: Ukraine frontline report - bitter fighting as Russian forces surround key cities | BBC News
Uploaded: 2025-11-24T17:07:15.000Z
Duration: 5 min 35 s
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Basic passive voice

As the negotiations continue, Russia's pushing hard on the battlefield and is said to be closing in on the city of Pokrovsk, a strategic hub in eastern Ukraine, and

The fighting in the area has been intense.

As Abdul Jalil Abdorasalov now reports, just a few seconds between life and death.

These Ukrainian soldiers ran to find cover when they heard the buzzing sound of a kamikaze drum.

Pokrovsk and its satellite town of Myrnograd form a strategic hub in eastern Ukraine.

Their fall would allow Russians to advance further east and north.

Moscow claims its forces have surrounded the cities.

Kyiv denies it and says that the situation around Pokrovsk is extremely difficult, but

The battle has spread into central streets of the city, where Ukrainian and Russian soldiers fight for every building.

Now, because of constant drone attacks, Ukrainian units remain in their positions for weeks, sometimes even months, unable to rotate.

Since armored vehicles cannot deliver supplies into Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces now have to rely on these robots called unmanned ground vehicles.

It's incredibly valuable for us to have this opportunity to save soldiers lives.

By replacing soldiers with this ground drone, we solve a number of issues and safety challenges.

This robot will deliver water, ammunition, and fuel to drone pilots from the 5th Brigade.

They will take it closer to the frontline to preserve its battery.

Speed is crucial, as they are going to be within the range of deadly Russian drones.

And demand for remotely controlled robots is growing.

For security reasons, we cannot show some parts of this facility.

I'm at a repair shop, and until recently, engineers primarily worked with devices like these FPV drones.

But now they're also getting unmanned ground vehicles, machines like these that help troops to deliver supplies to the front line.

Engineers apply camouflage, weld new platforms, and add hardware for extra communication.

These machines can reach places where soldiers or armored vehicles are unable to get, but

they are still vulnerable to drone attacks.

There are three or four routes to get to Pokrovsk, and

they are all constantly monitored by Russian drones.

While many robots won't make it, the troops on the frontline are reliant on those that do.

Abdul Rasul of BBC News, Eastern Ukraine.

Jonathan Beale's in Kyiv for us tonight, and Steve Rosenberg's in Moscow to you, Jonathan.

First, has there been any response where you are to the claim from Mr.

Trump that Ukrainian leaders have shown zero gratitude for Washington's efforts to end the conflict?

Yes, I mean, Clive, constructive talks in Geneva, but not constructive talks.

Conversations on social media with, as you say, President Trump saying Ukraine's leadership has shown zero gratitude, criticizing Europe, not criticizing Russia for starting this war.

And then we're hearing from President Zelensky on social media reminding his audience that it was Russia that started this war and also clearly expressing gratitude again to President Trump.

it does feel like President Trump is losing patience, hence setting that deadline of Thursday for Ukraine to sign the deal.

Now, today, Marco Rubio suggesting there may be some flexibility, but

essentially Ukraine is having to negotiate with a gun to its head.

The good news, the positive news here from President Zelensky tonight is he said he believes there are signals, just signals that America is listening to them.

And there are even unconfirmed reports that he may travel to the White House later this week.

All right, to you, Steve, in Moscow, any sense of what the Kremlin is thinking about the Geneva discussions?

No reaction tonight, Clive, from the Kremlin to what has been happening in Geneva.

But ahead of the Geneva talks, Russia's official position was, yes, the original 28 point draft plan could form the basis for a final peace settlement, although there would need to be detailed discussions first.

That's what Vladimir Putin basically said on Friday evening.

Now, the Russians will have been listening closely, I think, to what Marco Rubio was saying in Geneva.

They will have heard him express positivity, talk about progress in his talks with the Ukrainians.

But of course, Moscow will want to know what changes have been made or are being made to the draft and whether they feel that they can accept them.

At some point, a new draft will emerge and wend its way to Moscow.

Whether those talks lead to some kind of agreement, we'll have to see.