Russian forces have concentrated nearly 11,000 troops around Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in an escalating bid to encircle the embattled city, according to Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps. The Ukrainian unit reported that Russian infiltration groups are advancing from the northwest and north, increasing pressure on local defenders.
In total, Ukrainian estimates suggest Moscow has built up around 27,000 personnel in the broader operational area, supported by approximately 100 tanks, 260 armoured combat vehicles, and 160 artillery systems and mortars. The growing concentration signals Russia’s determination to seize control of the strategically important city.
Over the past two days, Ukrainian forces in the 7th Corps’ zone of responsibility claim to have killed 90 Russian soldiers and wounded 42 more.
They also reported destroying one armoured personnel carrier, three infantry fighting vehicles, three other vehicles, a motorcycle, and neutralising 158 enemy drones. Within Pokrovsk itself, at least 18 Russian troops were reportedly killed in close combat.
Footage shared by journalist Yuliia Kyriienko appeared to show a Russian flag flying at the city’s entrance, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing battles and the precarious state of the Ukrainian defence.
According to military analysts from the Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState, Russian infiltration operations in Pokrovsk have been underway since July. The group reports that Russian units are steadily increasing their infantry presence and targeting weak points around Zvirove, Shevchenko, and along the railway line between Kotlyne and Pokrovsk.
The occupying troops are reportedly staging ambushes, planting explosives, employing electronic warfare, and deploying drones to interfere with Ukrainian logistics. These tactics have disrupted supply routes to Myrnohrad and surrounding settlements, raising fears of an eventual Russian breakthrough.
DeepState analysts have urged Ukrainian command to launch comprehensive mop-up operations with a full brigade rather than smaller units, warning that partial counteractions will not be sufficient to secure the city. “The infiltration must be stopped entirely, or Pokrovsk risks being gradually absorbed,” the group stated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia’s primary strike group is now concentrated around Pokrovsk, noting that approximately 250 Russian soldiers remain engaged in street battles within the city limits.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials have recorded at least 45 combat engagements in the area, with defenders facing relentless pressure from ground assaults and near-continuous drone surveillance.
As the situation deteriorates, Pokrovsk stands as one of the most critical flashpoints on the eastern front, symbolizing both the resilience of Ukraine’s defenders and the escalating intensity of Russia’s campaign in Donetsk Oblast.