Ukraine’s Pokrovsk becomes epicenter of toughest battles, military says
Photo: The most intense fighting on the front line is now taking place near Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
The most intense fighting on the front line is now taking place near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Capturing this city is one of the key objectives of the Russian forces, said Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group of forces.
"The most important and hardest battles are now taking place near Pokrovsk. It’s clear that this city is a target of the Russian campaign. Of course, it’s tough, and we’d like the Russians to be stopped there as soon as possible, but we all understand that stopping them there is a complex task," said Trehubov.
At the same time, he assured that everything is being done to hold off Russian advances in this direction.
"Though let’s be honest: there are just a lot of them there. The tactic they are using there is a trade-off — exchanging Russian lives for each meter of land," he added.
Trehubov explained that Pokrovsk has been a primary objective and the focus of Russia’s main assault for multiple campaigns. It was also a key target during the winter campaign that began in December-January.
"It’s remained that way for several years. By late 2023, the Russians were already advancing toward Pokrovsk, and now we are in mid-2025. For them, it’s a critical point that would give them control over the central Donetsk region," Trehubov said.
That’s why Russia concentrated all its forces on that sector, the spokesperson added.
He noted that it is crucial to hold the Russians off north of the city.
"Our priority must be to destroy as many of their troops there as possible, so they can’t continue their offensive. They need to be exhausted. All efforts are now focused on that. It’s a battle of two forces — whoever can outlast the other," the spokesperson concluded.
Situation near Pokrovsk
Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Russian forces are attempting to break through to Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region using infiltration tactics — small assault groups and sabotage units. Ukraine’s Defense Forces are actively countering these attempts.
At the end of July, Syrskyi stated that a Russian sabotage group had penetrated Pokrovsk. However, Ukrainian forces repelled the assaults and mopped up the area.
According to Ukrainian military sources, enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups are being destroyed before they can reach the town. Meanwhile, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on July 31 that Ukrainian troops recently advanced near northern Lysivka in the Pokrovsk direction.
British intelligence believes that Russia has achieved some gains in this direction. However, the cost for Russian troops has been enormous.
