Pokrovsk (Donetsk region) has become the new epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine. According to various sources, Russian forces continue advancing toward the city, using both ground assaults and massive drone and artillery strikes.

The Ukrainian command admits that the situation remains “extremely tense”.

Pokrovsk is a major transport and logistics hub located about 60 km northwest of Donetsk. Railways pass through the city, connecting the western parts of Donbas with Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Control over Pokrovsk would open a direct route for Russia toward Kurakhove and Kostiantynivka – key strongholds of Ukraine’s defense. In addition, the city serves as a rear supply base for Ukrainian units holding the front along the Avdiivka–Maryinka line.

If Pokrovsk falls, Ukrainian forces will have to retreat westward, building a new line of defense in open steppe terrain, which would make it harder to hold their positions.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is employing a “creeping encirclement” strategy – a slow but systematic advance relying on artillery and assault groups. The main strikes are focused on the southeastern outskirts of Pokrovsk and the nearby town of Myrnohrad.

In recent weeks, Russia has deployed new long-range drone platforms, assault units composed of contract soldiers and reservists, and electronic warfare systems disrupting Ukrainian communications and navigation.

Analysts note that, unlike in 2023, the Russian army now operates in a more organized way, using a “mosaic” assault structure, where drones, artillery, and infantry have clearly defined roles.

Ukraine has concentrated in the Pokrovsk area units trained with Western assistance. However, shortages of ammunition and the need to cover a long frontline reduce the effectiveness of its defense.

According to Ukrainian sources, the Armed Forces have switched to flexible defense tactics – a gradual withdrawal combined with strikes on enemy supply lines. Ukrainian forces are also actively using kamikaze drones against Russian logistics convoys deep inside the Donetsk region.

Nevertheless, experts acknowledge that if Russia manages to secure control over Pokrovsk, Ukraine risks losing an important logistical corridor and partial operational control over the Donbas front.

The fall of Pokrovsk, Western analysts warn, would have both military and political consequences. First, it could undermine confidence in Ukraine’s ability to hold the eastern front without a substantial increase in NATO support. Second, amid continuing Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Kyiv may face growing internal pressure and public fatigue from the prolonged war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has already urged allies to accelerate deliveries of Patriot air-defense systems and artillery ammunition, warning that “every day of delay costs Ukraine cities and lives”.

Many analysts believe the situation around Pokrovsk is a harbinger of a protracted winter campaign, in which both sides will seek to wear each other down. Russia is likely to attempt to consolidate its gains and stabilize the front before spring, while Ukraine will look for opportunities to launch localized counterattacks and precision operations.

The scenario in which Pokrovsk completely falls under Russian control is not inevitable – but it illustrates how fragile the balance of forces remains in the east.

The battle for Pokrovsk is becoming a litmus test for both armies: for Russia – to prove its ability to coordinate complex offensive operations; for Ukraine – to demonstrate the resilience of its defensive system. Ultimately, the outcome of this struggle could shape not only the configuration of the front but also the trajectory of diplomatic efforts surrounding the war.

#RUSSIA

#UKRAINE

10.11.2025 07:52