Street battles are currently raging in the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk, as Russian soldiers have successfully entered the city following a nearly year-long assault. This significant breach highlights the slow but persistent nature of Moscow’s military advances. Should Russia ultimately secure full control of Pokrovsk, it would establish a critically important foothold in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed reporters on Tuesday that approximately 200 Russian troops had infiltrated the city, though Ukrainian soldiers engaged in combat there suggested this was an understated figure. Reports from online battlefield maps, compiled by independent groups and based on combat footage, indicate that Russian units are holding positions in the southern part of the city and are actively pushing northward.
“The situation is extremely challenging because a substantial portion of the city has already been penetrated by the occupying forces,” explained Denys, a Ukrainian drone operator, who, in adherence to military protocol, provided only his first name.
He added, “They are steadily increasing their presence, attempting to completely overwhelm the city with their forces. When they encounter our positions, intense firefights ensue.”
Ukrainian soldiers confirm that active street fighting is now taking place in Pokrovsk. Battlefield maps from DeepState, a group with close ties to the Ukrainian military, depict large areas of the city as a ‘gray zone,’ signifying contested control.
Pokrovsk, which once had a population of around 60,000, sits on a crucial roadway that connects several cities forming the last major defensive line safeguarding the Ukrainian-controlled segment of the Donetsk region. If the city falls, it would bring Russia significantly closer to achieving its long-standing objective of seizing the entire region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that Russia would only cease hostilities if Kyiv relinquished Donetsk. The Kremlin would likely leverage a capture of Pokrovsk to persuade the Trump administration that its military gains are unstoppable and that Ukraine should agree to a peace settlement, even if it necessitates territorial concessions.
“We understand why they need Pokrovsk,” President Zelensky told reporters earlier this week, emphasizing that Moscow aims to reinforce its narrative that a Ukrainian retreat and yielding territory are “the only possible” path to ending the war.
President Zelensky stressed that holding the city is essential to counter this narrative. However, the duration for which Ukrainian troops can maintain control of Pokrovsk remains uncertain. Mr. Zelensky noted that Russian troops in the city currently outnumber Ukrainian defenders by roughly eight to one.
According to Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, there are likely too many Russian forces within the city for Ukraine to effectively repel them. Ukrainian soldiers report facing familiar challenges that have led to retreats in previous battles: severe troop shortages and continuous Russian drone attacks that disrupt their supply lines.
Ukrainian forces are also under pressure from other fronts along the eastern battleground. Russian troops have entered Kupiansk, a city Ukraine recaptured in 2022, and have partially encircled Kostiantynivka, which serves as a gateway to northern Donetsk.
For a long time, Pokrovsk had served as a formidable barrier against Russian advances. Moscow’s forces initiated attacks on the city approximately a year ago but were repeatedly repelled by Ukraine’s robust defensive lines and strategic deployment of drones to detect and target incoming assaults.
To circumvent these defenses, Russian forces have adopted tactics successfully employed elsewhere. This includes utilizing small, dismounted assault groups, sometimes consisting of just two soldiers. These groups are more difficult for drones to detect and can effectively infiltrate undermanned Ukrainian lines. Over time, these tactics allowed Russia to concentrate enough troops within the city to launch a larger, more impactful offensive.
“These small groups are like needles: one prick doesn’t hurt much, but when there are many, it becomes an acupuncture session with very sad consequences,” remarked Bohdan Yanush, deputy battalion commander in Ukraine’s 79th Air Assault Brigade. “They disrupt logistics, identify our servicemen, and open fire on them.”
Mr. Paroinen noted that adverse weather conditions, which hinder Ukrainian reconnaissance drones, have also benefited the Russians, occasionally allowing their armored vehicles to advance with less exposure. “The Russians have exploited this window for mechanized attacks, significantly complicating Ukraine’s defense,” he stated.
Denys, the Ukrainian drone operator, also mentioned that Russian forces have taken advantage of the continued presence of civilians in Pokrovsk. According to local authorities, over 1,000 civilians remain in the city, and Russian forces are reportedly wearing civilian clothing to camouflage themselves.
“How can you distinguish who’s who if there are no identifying marks, they’re in civilian clothes, pretending they’re just fetching water from a well, so to speak?” he questioned.
Another Ukrainian drone operator, who chose to remain anonymous due to not being authorized to speak with the media, recounted observing individuals who appeared to be civilians near a house, only to later witness them launching drones from the very same spot.
The Ukrainian military is growing increasingly concerned that Russian troops are now attempting to encircle its forces located just east of Pokrovsk. DeepState’s maps illustrate Russian forces executing two pincer movements: one from the city center and another from villages to the northeast. Only a few miles separate these military advances, compelling Ukrainian reinforcements in the area to navigate a narrow, constantly contested corridor.