President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he visited troops near the embattled city of Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces are fighting to hold a key logistics hub that Russia has tried to capture for months.

“I met with our warriors at the command post of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine ‘Azov,’ which is conducting a defensive operation in the Dobropillia sector,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram, referring to a town about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Pokrovsk.

Zelensky said he received reports from commanders on the operational situation and discussed urgent defense needs, including weapons supplies, expanding drone production, and improving logistics for front-line brigades.

He also presented state awards to soldiers and thanked them for their service.

“Our defenders are serving in an important sector,” he said. “Thank you for protecting Ukraine and our territorial integrity. This is our country, this is our East, and we will do everything possible to keep it Ukrainian.”

Fierce fighting continues around Pokrovsk as of Tuesday, where Ukrainian special forces and intelligence units are battling a major Russian assault. Both sides have claimed gains in recent days, but Kyiv says Russian troops are suffering heavy losses.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Monday that Ukrainian forces are intensifying pressure on Russian positions near Dobropillia to disrupt Moscow’s offensive.

“We are increasing pressure on the Dobropillia salient,” Syrsky said on Facebook. “We continue to liberate and clear territories, forcing the enemy to disperse its forces and preventing it from concentrating its main efforts in the Pokrovsk area.”

On Tuesday morning, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) confirmed that its “Timur” special unit continues operating in one of Pokrovsk’s key areas to safeguard frontline logistics.

“Fierce battles are taking place with the Russian occupiers. After a successful landing operation, the HUR special forces, who occupied the designated lines, broke through the ground corridor and were joined by additional special forces,” the statement reads.

During a press conference on Monday, Zelensky said he was unaware of any special operation by HUR in Pokrovsk, despite media reports over the weekend.

“I do not know about the HUR special operation, to be honest,” he said. “We have special forces that the General Staff and Armed Forces use in different operations. HUR personnel help the Armed Forces. There may have been up to 30 people there.”