In the military chronicles of the latest stage of the war in eastern Ukraine, a disturbing episode has emerged: Russian troops claim to be advancing into the city of Pokrovsk and the Kupiansk area. A video released online shows soldiers riding motorcycles and moving over the roofs of old cars and vans –  a scene reminiscent of the movie Mad Max.

According to the Russian command, units with the call sign Hunter reported taking control of an oil depot on the eastern outskirts of Kupiansk and several railway stations in nearby settlements.

The Ukrainian command, however, insists that the city remains under its control and that supply routes to the nearby city of Myrnohrad are still operational.

Official Russian statements add that 256 buildings in Pokrovsk have been captured, with forces advancing northwest and east from the city’s railway station. However, these claims cannot be independently verified – information from the front line remains extremely limited.

Pokrovsk is often referred to in Russian media as the “gateway to Donetsk”, and its capture could potentially open the road toward the region’s major cities – Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

The use of unconventional vehicles (motorcycles, car roofs) is not a sign of technological superiority but rather a tactical maneuver aimed at infiltration, confusing the enemy, and creating a powerful visual effect. Even if actual control has not been established, the dissemination of such videos and statements is part of the information war – intended to undermine the morale of the defense forces and the civilian population.

Analysts note that this tactic differs from the massive frontal assaults seen earlier: it relies instead on maneuver, encirclement, and the seizure of key communications. Videos featuring motorcycles, battered cars, and snow-covered roads, experts say, serve a psychological function – to convey a sense of surprise, chaos, and mobility.

#RUSSIA

#UKRAINE

12.11.2025 05:58