British intelligence weighs battlefield situation in Siversk and outside Pokrovsk
Illustrative photo: British intelligence assessed the situation in Siversk and on the approaches to Pokrovsk (GettyImages)
Russian forces continue attempts to advance in the area of Siversk in the Donetsk region, taking advantage of unfavorable weather conditions. At the same time, Russia's claims of full control over the city do not correspond to reality.
This is stated in an analytical report by UK intelligence dated December 13.
According to the British assessment, Russian ground forces are trying to infiltrate Siversk using fog and have likely managed to occupy certain positions in the central part of the city. At the same time, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold the western districts, indicating that fighting is ongoing.
"Siversk has long been an objective for Russian forces, which have mounted several failed assaults on the town. Siversk has screened the larger remaining Ukrainian-held Donetsk cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk," UK intelligence said.
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In addition, according to UK intelligence, Ukrainian troops retain a limited capability to conduct localized raid operations in the northern part of Pokrovsk.
The report also notes that Russian forces continue to suffer significant losses during intense fighting along the entire front line. According to London’s estimates, Russia’s killed and wounded in 2025 could reach around 395,000 personnel.
Fighting in Pokrovsk
On Monday, December 8, the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a planned withdrawal of Ukrainian units in the areas of Lisivka and Sukhyi Yar, south of Myrnohrad. According to the military, the maneuver was carried out to move to more advantageous defensive positions and to preserve personnel.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi explained that Ukrainian forces withdrew from positions 5–7 kilometers from Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region due to the lack of rotation opportunities and constant enemy attempts to bypass fortifications. According to him, further holding of these lines had lost its military rationale.
At the same time, on November 27, Syrskyi reported that about 11.5 square kilometers in Pokrovsk had been liberated over the course of a week — more than a third of the city. Despite this, the Russian side claimed control over most of the settlement and later announced its alleged full occupation.
Earlier, Syrskyi also acknowledged that in the autumn there was a period when Ukrainian units temporarily left Pokrovsk.
According to the latest data, the Defense Forces continue to hold the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration despite increased pressure from Russian forces.
