Russian military officials say their forces have captured the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a major logistics hub that has been under siege for nearly two years. Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov announced the capture on Monday, also stating that the city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region had been taken. According to Russian state media, President Vladimir Putin was informed of the reported victories while visiting a front-line command center. Pokrovsk, located in the Donetsk region, was once home to 60,000 people and serves as a vital transportation link. The city has endured intense bombardment in recent weeks, with widespread destruction from Russian drones, artillery, and airstrikes. Russian media has circulated video appearing to show soldiers moving through the streets of Pokrovsk and raising a Russian flag. The Kremlin later stated that Putin congratulated his forces on the capture, using the city's Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk. Ukraine has not yet officially confirmed the loss of Pokrovsk. This reported advance comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with U.S. and European leaders to discuss possible paths to end the war. Zelenskyy has emphasized that preventing territorial concessions to Russia, which would legitimize its occupation of Ukrainian land, remains a top priority.