Russian President Vladimir Putin said the capture of the key Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk would enable the military to proceed with its tasks in its offensive operations in Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies.

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Dressed in military uniform, Putin visited one of the command posts of Russia’s Joint Grouping of Occupation Forces. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to him on the capture of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast — a city that was a major logistics hub for Ukraine’s Defense Forces,