**Ukraine’s Top Commander Reports Success in Defending Key City**
In a boost to Ukraine’s morale, top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi has reported that his forces are standing firm against Russian attacks on the key city of Pokrovsk. This comes as Ukraine’s government undergoes significant changes, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointing a new Prime Minister and Defense Minister.
According to Reuters, Syrskyi presented a report to Zelenskiy detailing the challenges facing Ukrainian troops along the 1,000-kilometer front line. He highlighted the bravery of soldiers defending Pokrovsk, who have withstood months of Russian attempts to capture it. Despite Russia’s efforts, Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian forces have successfully contained and destroyed Russian sabotage groups.
Zelenskiy praised those defending Pokrovsk, saying that no Russian group attempting to advance into Ukrainian cities and villages will have a chance of survival. The city is a logistics hub in eastern Donetsk region, and its capture would be a significant blow to Ukraine’s defenses.
**Ukraine Reports Successes Against Russian Troops**
In recent months, Ukraine has reported some successes in pushing back Russian troops from the area around Pokrovsk. The city is a key road and rail hub used to supply other frontline towns. While most of Pokrovsk’s pre-war population of 60,000 has been evacuated, Ukrainian forces have managed to keep the city under control.
**Ukraine Air Defense Units Repel Russian Drones**
In Kyiv, Ukrainian air defense units successfully repelled a wave of Russian drones on Friday evening. Fragments from one intercepted drone fell on a dwelling in an eastern suburb, but no injuries were reported.
**Government Shakeup**
The report by Syrskyi comes as Ukraine’s government undergoes significant changes. President Zelenskiy has appointed a new Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, and put her predecessor, Denys Shmyhal, at the head of the Defense Ministry. The outgoing Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, was named chairman of the National Security and Defense Council and tasked with intensifying peace talks with Russia.
**International Developments**
Meanwhile, finance chiefs from the Group of 20 countries met in South Africa and issued a joint statement stressing the importance of central bank independence while pledging to boost cooperation.
