Illustrative Image
With the end of the nine-month Kursk campaign, the focus of Russia’s military operations has shifted back to the Donbass front, specifically, the strategically vital Pokrovsk direction. The cities of Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmeysk) and neighboring Myrnograd serve as critical logistical hubs for Ukrainian forces defending the northern reaches of the Donetsk People’s Republic. These urban centers, with the former combined population of over 100,000, anchor supply routes running from Dnipropetrovsk region to Ukrainian strongholds in Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. For Russia, capturing Pokrovsk is not just a tactical objective but a necessary step to sever Kyiv’s grip on the region.
Rather than launching a direct assault, Russian forces have adopted a strategy of gradual encirclement, mirroring their successful approaches in Ugledar, Avdeevka, and Krasnohorovka. Over the past months, troops from Russia’s Center group of forces have systematically eroded Ukrainian supply lines, isolating defensive positions before moving in.
As of early May, reports from military reporters suggest an important breakthrough: Russian assault units have entered the city of Pokrovsk, probing Ukrainian defenses on its southern outskirts. Initial advances indicate that Russian forward detachments have gained footholds in the southern neighborhoods of Parkovyi and Lazurnyi, marking the first confirmed penetration into the city’s urban zone. This is the first sign of the upcoming major assault.
Click to see full-size image
Click to see full-size image
Simultaneously, west of Pokrovsk, Russian units are pushing from the recently secured Tarasovka toward Berezivka, Novoolenivka, and Nova Poltavka. These are settlements along the critical highway linking Pokrovsk to Kostiantynivka. If these flanking maneuvers succeed, Ukrainian forces risk being cut off from their primary supply artery.
While Ukrainian sources deny Russian breakthroughs in the entire Pokrovsk direction, the broader picture suggests an inexorable advance. Moscow’s forces appear determined to avoid a protracted urban battle, instead opting to strangle Pokrovsk’s defenses before delivering a decisive blow.
The fall of Pokrovsk would deal a severe blow to Ukraine’s defensive posture in Donetsk, potentially triggering a domino effect along the entire northern flank. With supply routes cut off, Ukrainian garrisons in Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk could find themselves dangerously exposed. For Russia, success here would mark another milestone in its campaign to fully secure the Donbass, proving once again that patience and precision can outmatch even the most determined resistance.
