Russia Gains Foothold in Pokrovsk

Russian forces have intensified a concerted push into the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian and Western reporting saying about 200 Russian soldiers have entered in small assault groups and Moscow has gained a foothold despite Kyiv’s resistance. Moscow’s tactics include small infantry teams supported by forward-deployed heavy artillery and widespread use of FPV and fiber-optic drones, and bridges and supply routes have been damaged, complicating evacuation and logistics. Ukrainian and Western officials say the Pokrovsk axis is among the toughest on the front and that Russian units in the sector may outnumber Ukrainian defenders by as much as eight-to-one, though Kyiv disputes Moscow’s claims of complete encirclement. Despite the pressure, Ukrainian units report holding positions and conducting effective counterbattery and drone-reconnaissance strikes that have hit exposed Russian launchers and artillery, while Kyiv works to bolster defenses and secure supply and evacuation routes.