Ukrainian intelligence counterattacks Russian forces near Pokrovsk to restore supply routes – Sources
Illustrative photo: Ukraine's Defense Intelligence conducts a counterattack near Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
Soldiers from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) are conducting a counteroffensive operation near Pokrovsk, according to The Economist correspondent Oliver Carroll and sources within Ukraine's Defense Forces.
What Carroll wrote
According to Carroll, he received information that the Defense Intelligence is carrying out a "daring counteroffensive" near Pokrovsk to unblock key logistical routes.
He also shared videos showing Ukrainian intelligence troops being deployed from helicopters.
New. Hearing Ukraine's military intelligence is conducting a daring counter-offensive near Pokrovsk to reopen key logistics lines. Videos shared with me purport to show a heli drop in areas Russia claims to hold. *Have not been able to verify vids independently. pic.twitter.com/ZGyYfjUD2S
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) October 31, 2025
According to the journalist, these operations are taking place in areas that Russia claims to control.
Information from sources
RBC-Ukraine’s sources in the Defense Forces confirmed both the counterattack by HUR and the authenticity of the videos shared by Carroll.
Fighting for Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk remains a top priority target for Russian forces, which have concentrated their main assault group there.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian saboteurs had managed to infiltrate the city.
According to Ukrainian military reports, Russia has deployed around 11,000 troops to encircle the Pokrovsk agglomeration.
Russian propaganda channels have already begun spreading claims that Ukrainian troops are encircled in Pokrovsk. According to Russian media, such reports were even delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These rumors were later denied by both Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
