The Ukrainian army reported fierce fighting near the industrial city of Kurakovo and admitted that Russian forces had carried out more than 100 attacks around a key village in the Donbass, although it did not comment on Moscow's claim that it had captured it, Radio Free Europe writes in English.
The comments on November 3 follow a night in which Russia and Ukraine resumed drone attacks on each other, with Russian drones damaging buildings and power lines in Kiev in the early hours of the morning.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had launched nearly 20 drones at targets in southern Russia, but claimed all were intercepted.
On November 3rd, Russian troops claimed to have captured a village in Donbas located less than 6 kilometers from Pokrovsk, a major logistics hub.
Russian forces "liberated the village of Vishneva after offensive operations," the Russian Ministry of Defense announced.
Kiev did not immediately comment on the claim, but the Ukrainian General Staff acknowledged in its daily update that Russian forces had carried out 19 attacks on the Pokrovsk region.
"In curbing the pressure, the defense forces repelled enemy attacks. The occupiers are focusing their main efforts near (the villages of) Promin and Višnjeva".
It is added that the "hottest situation" is near the industrial city of Kurakovo.
A day earlier, Russian troops claimed to have captured Kurahivka, another, larger village located near Kurahiv, on the main reservoir.
"The enemy has currently attacked the positions of the defense forces 110 times. It is most active in the direction of Kurakovo and Pokrovsk, where it carried out more than half of all attacks," it said.
The capture of Pokrovsk, a key transit and supply point for Ukraine that connects several major outposts in the Donbass, is one of Russia's main goals in the region. It is also home to a large coke mine that is key to Ukraine's steel production.
Ukraine is struggling with manpower, as well as equipment and weapons shortages, hampering its ability to withstand Russian advances.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced a new $425 million package of weapons and other equipment for Kiev, though it's unclear when it will arrive or whether it will make a difference on the battlefield.
The Nov. 1 announcement was likely the last before the Nov. 5 U.S. election, which will prove crucial to future Western support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western suppliers for months to allow Kiev to use its advanced weapons for attacks deeper into Russia, and last week accused them of failing to respond to Russia's alleged plan to deploy thousands of North Korean troops to Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have ruled out using Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia out of fear that it could result in nuclear retaliation from Moscow.
Meanwhile, a Washington Post report said EU leaders are "preparing for a possible severance of transatlantic relations should former President Donald Trump win" the Nov. 5 presidential election.
"What will happen if a president is elected in America for the second time who declares NATO obsolete and no longer wants to fulfill security promises?" Friedrich Mertz, the leader of Germany's conservative Christian Democrats, told his supporters, the Post quoted.
"Then we will be alone. And by that I don't mean only us Germans, but us Europeans".
Trump, who is in a close battle with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, has expressed doubts about the viability of NATO and has favored, as his critics say, a pro-Russian policy. Haris strongly supported continued aid to Ukraine.
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