Officer explains why deep strikes are key to defending the Pokrovsk front

Battle for Pokrovsk: Logistics, not assaults, has become the decisive front

Thirty-three combat engagements in a single day — that is a typical early-July battlefield report from the Pokrovsk sector in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. In other words, roughly one in every eight Russian assaults across the entire 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front takes place around this city, located south of Russia's primary objective in Donetsk region — the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk "fortress belt."

Ukrainian forces have repelled and continue to repel Russian assaults near Rodynske, Hryshyne, Udachne, Molodetske, as well as Bilitske, Novyi Donbas, Shevchenko, Serhiivka and Novopavlivka. Rather than concentrating on a single axis, Russian forces are applying pressure through a series of localized attacks around the entire Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad urban area.

In May, the OSINT project DeepState suggested Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad could soon be fully occupied. However, Ukraine's 7th Air Assault Corps, which is defending the sector, rejected that assessment, saying Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk.

What is happening around Pokrovsk now? NV again spoke with an officer from one of the Ukrainian units fighting in the area. He requested anonymity and asked that neither his name nor unit be disclosed.

According to the officer, the Pokrovsk sector remains Russia's top operational priority along the front. Two combined-arms armies are concentrated there, along with the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. Elements of the 90th Tank Division have also previously been identified in the area. He described it as the largest concentration of Russian forces around a single urban area, adding that this buildup has remained intact for at least six months.

"Pokrovsk is a relatively large city for this area and sits on elevated ground. That makes it a convenient logistics hub for the Russians. They are trying to extend their reach as much as possible while building up forces for further advances," the officer told NV.

Battle for logistics

According to the officer, Russian forces are no longer attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses with large-scale frontal assaults.

"What they're doing now above all is trying to move as many personnel and resources into Pokrovsk as possible," he said. "Over the past few months there were several direct assaults on Hryshyne, but those have stopped. They're also no longer attacking northern Pokrovsk as aggressively."

The objective, he said, is to turn Pokrovsk into a logistics hub for future offensive operations. Instead of launching major assaults, Russian forces are building up troops, equipment, command posts and drone operator positions inside the city.

Russian infiltration beyond the city has continued.

"Their main effort is focused on Hryshyne. They've established positions in the southern part of the settlement and are pushing toward the center. They're trying to bypass it through open fields and move through the industrial zone in the northwest. North of Pokrovsk they're also trying to push toward Rodynske," the officer said.

He said this tactic of infiltration in small groups has become standard for Russian forces.

"A year ago it was still relatively new across the front. Now everyone understands how to counter it."

The larger challenge, he said, is Russia's manpower advantage.

Russian commanders are willing to absorb heavy infantry losses, sending troops forward repeatedly. Some are killed, others reach Ukrainian positions, and small groups gradually establish footholds. Ukrainian forces respond with remote mining and artillery strikes because Russian approach routes are generally known.

According to the 7th Air Assault Corps, Russian casualties in the Pokrovsk sector reached 1,703 killed or wounded in June alone. Ukrainian paratroopers also destroyed or damaged 71 Russian artillery systems and armored vehicles, 139 trucks and civilian vehicles, 54 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, and 1,151 enemy positions.

Still, the officer acknowledged that preventing Russian forces from consolidating inside the city is difficult. Once drone crews establish themselves inside apartment blocks and logistics routes become operational, the most effective means of striking them are air-delivered guided bombs and medium-range drone strikes.

FPV drones are highly effective against Russian infantry and light vehicles but have limited ability to destroy concealed drone crews operating from basements.

"FPV drones can't do much against drone operators because they're hiding in building basements. Aviation is what's needed," the officer said.

Ukraine has therefore shifted its focus to attacking Russian communications infrastructure, regularly targeting antennas to disrupt battlefield communications, although the officer noted such equipment can often be replaced quickly.

Ukraine's domestically produced guided bombs have not yet entered widespread service. According to the officer, they have been used in at least one sector, but not on a large scale. Ukrainian aviation continues to operate, though under significant constraints.

Medium-range drone strikes against operational-depth targets are becoming increasingly important. However, the officer said those assets are better used beyond Pokrovsk itself to sever Russian supply lines.

Logistics has become the central battle around northern Donetsk region.

The road linking occupied Selydove with Pokrovsk lies within range of Ukrainian drones, which regularly destroy Russian vehicles along the route. About 100 vehicles — including cars, motorcycles and ATVs — were destroyed there in June alone.

Russian forces have installed anti-drone netting over parts of the road, but according to the officer, the measure has had little effect.

Ukraine's 25th Separate Sicheslav Airborne Brigade has also reported Hornet drone strikes against Russian logistics along the Donetsk-Selydove-Pokrovsk highway, including confirmed strikes on 14 artillery pieces, self-propelled guns and Grad multiple-launch rocket systems.

Russian artillery deployed into the city has become another target.

In April and May, Russian forces moved large numbers of artillery systems into Pokrovsk, prompting Ukrainian forces to prioritize their destruction.

According to the officer, much of the artillery visible in strike footage is concealed inside garages and buildings. Rather than firing from within the city itself, Russian forces now appear to be operating mainly from the southern outskirts.

Russian headquarters

"According to the information we have, the enemy wants to establish the headquarters of its grouping in Pokrovsk. In a way that makes sense because farther west there are no major cities until Pavlohrad," the officer said. "But that absolutely cannot be allowed. The Defense Forces understand this and are working to prevent it."

The officer also reiterated an assessment he previously shared with NV during the winter: there is no continuous front line around Pokrovsk.

Instead, much of the area consists of contested gray zones where Russian infiltration continues and Ukrainian forces focus on containing those advances.

Overall, the situation in early July remains largely unchanged, he said.

There has been no major Russian breakthrough. Instead, Russian forces continue applying pressure through small-group attacks while building up positions inside the city, as both sides wage an increasingly intense battle over logistics.

"Our main task is to force the enemy to move its strongpoints outside the city and cut its logistics so it can no longer freely enter Pokrovsk and use vehicles. That work is already underway to some extent," the officer said.