Ukrainian forces continue to cling to their positions in and around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad as Russian troops push deeper into the two cities, threatening to encircle the defenders entirely. For more than two weeks, heavy fighting has turned Pokrovsk into a chaotic gray zone where territorial control shifts by the hour.
A Ukrainian drone operator on the ground, speaking anonymously to the Kyiv Independent, described the situation as “a mess,” with soldiers from both sides intermixed across streets and buildings. Despite mounting pressure and collapsing lines on the southern edges, Ukrainian troops are still fighting block by block as Russian forces pour in.
According to open-source maps from the Deep State project, which many Ukrainians rely on for real-time battlefield data, most of Pokrovsk remains contested. Both Russian-controlled and gray areas have expanded, but Ukrainian units continue to hold pockets of resistance. “Pokrovsk isn’t being surrounded—it’s being absorbed,” said Deep State co-founder Roman Pohorilyi. “The enemy is seeping in and setting up positions.”
The ferocity of combat has made it nearly impossible to maintain stable defenses. Ukrainian drone operators, once pivotal in halting advances, are increasingly exposed to ambushes as Russian infiltration groups push northward. These threats have curtailed their ability to conduct drone strikes effectively.
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian logistics hubs using precision drone strikes, particularly through elite Rubicon units. “Thirty days ago there was one of our destroyed cars near the front line,” said Artem Fysun of the Peaky Blinders drone unit. “Now there are a dozen. In less than a month, we’ve lost a huge amount of equipment.”
The battle carries heavy political weight as both Moscow and Kyiv seek symbolic victories before winter. On October 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin prematurely claimed Pokrovsk and nearby Kupiansk were surrounded. In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited commanders in the Pokrovsk area to boost morale, echoing similar trips to Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
However, frustration is growing inside Ukraine over the decision to hold Pokrovsk at all costs. Volunteer and journalist Vitalii Deineha warned that delaying a withdrawal could lead to catastrophic losses. “If no order is given to pull out, we risk losing our paratroopers and marines,” he wrote, cautioning that the situation could soon spiral beyond control.
Currently, only a narrow corridor—less than five kilometers wide—connects Myrnohrad with the rest of Ukrainian-held territory. Mines and drones saturate the area, making troop rotations perilous.
Critics argue that Ukraine’s “not one step back” mindset under Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi distorts battlefield realities. “Reports to the General Staff are increasingly filled with lies,” Deineha claimed. “We’ve practically lost Pokrovsk, and holding Myrnohrad may soon be pointless.”
Despite the grim outlook, Ukrainian forces continue symbolic resistance. On November 6, troops from the Skelia Assault Regiment raised the national flag over Pokrovsk’s city council building—a fleeting but defiant gesture that underscored both their resilience and the city’s fragmented control.