In the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, drones fill the skies, posing a significant threat to military convoys navigating the conflict-ridden streets. Recently, amidst dense fog, a video surfaced on social media revealing a group of Russian soldiers traversing Pokrovsk on motorcycles and in a car with missing doors.
The short video clip shared by Russian military bloggers offered a glimpse into the strategic battleground of Pokrovsk, painting a grim picture reminiscent of a dystopian movie like “Mad Max.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that adverse weather conditions were aiding Russia in its ongoing efforts to infiltrate the city, a target they have been advancing towards for over a year.
Front-line maps indicate that Pokrovsk is teetering on the edge of falling, with some military experts speculating that Russia is poised to eventually capture both Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Myrnohrad. A Ukrainian drone operator, known by the callsign Goose, mentioned a noticeable increase in Russian presence in the area, operating in small teams and utilizing vehicles and motorcycles in recent days.
Goose, a member of the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade of Ukraine’s Armed Forces stationed in Pokrovsk, emphasized the encroaching threat as Russia strategically moves to encircle the city, which was once home to 60,000 residents prior to the full-scale invasion by Moscow in February 2022. Unlike the direct assault on Bakhmut earlier in the conflict, Russia is employing a pincer-like tactic to enclose Pokrovsk from the south and northeast.
With a growing number of Russian troops establishing positions within the city, their objective is to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines and gain a foothold to advance further north into the Donetsk region. Ukrainian military estimates suggest that Russia is amassing approximately 150,000 troops in the vicinity, with a significant contingent already present in Pokrovsk.
Describing Pokrovsk as a ‘grey zone,’ Goose highlighted the fluid nature of control in the urban area, where both sides constantly monitor each other’s movements using drones. Colonel Volodymyr Polevyi, from the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emphasized the logistical adjustments necessitated by the persistent drone threat, leading infantry units to cover distances of up to 10 km on foot due to the vulnerability of armored vehicles.
Polevyi stated that Ukraine’s infantry in Pokrovsk faces a significant numerical disadvantage but maintains air superiority through the deployment of glide bombs. As the conflict intensifies, military positions have shifted to the basements of concrete structures within the city, emphasizing the critical need to retain control to avoid being pushed into exposed open fields.
Despite repeated evacuation advisories, around 1,000 residents remain in the devastated city of Pokrovsk, where scenes of civilians collecting water or interacting with neighbors are occasionally observed through drone surveillance. Polevyi acknowledged the challenges of ensuring the safety of these residents who have chosen to defy evacuation orders, underscoring the complexities faced in safeguarding civilian lives amidst the ongoing conflict.