In the skies above Pokrovsk, a city in Ukraine facing intense conflict, drones are so prevalent that military convoys often avoid the streets due to the high risk of being targeted. Recent footage circulating on social media during a period of thick fog showed a small group of Russian soldiers navigating the city on motorcycles and in a car with missing doors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns that the adverse weather conditions were aiding Russia in their attempts to infiltrate Pokrovsk, a key strategic location that has been under siege for over a year. Analysts suggest that the city is teetering on the edge of falling, with some experts predicting that Russia is poised to capture Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Myrnohrad.
An anonymous Ukrainian drone operator known by the callsign Goose, stationed with the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade, noted a significant increase in Russian presence in the area. He mentioned that Russian forces, though operating in smaller groups, have recently incorporated vehicles and motorcycles into their movements.
The ongoing conflict in Pokrovsk has seen Russia employing a pincer-like strategy to encircle the city from the south and northeast, unlike the direct assault on Bakhmut earlier in the war. This maneuver aims to cut off Ukrainian supply lines and establish offensive positions, potentially allowing Russia to expand its control in the Donetsk region.
According to Ukrainian military estimates, Russia has amassed around 150,000 troops in the region, with several hundred already present in Pokrovsk. The situation in the city remains volatile, with continuous drone surveillance dictating the movements of troops on both sides. Ukrainian forces have adapted their logistics to counter the drone threat, with infantry troops now covering distances on foot and minimizing the use of armored vehicles to avoid detection.
As the conflict persists, the city of Pokrovsk lies in ruins, with the majority of residents evacuated. Despite evacuation orders, roughly 1,000 residents have chosen to stay, risking their lives amid the ongoing hostilities. Ukrainian forces are striving to protect civilians and maintain control over strategic positions in the city amid the challenging circumstances.
