Both sides are suffering enormous losses, and drones and artillery have turned the city into ruins.
Russian troops have approached the most significant conquest since the fall of Bakhmut more than two years ago - the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. However, even if they manage to fully capture the city, this victory will be pyrrhic: the battles for Pokrovsk have turned out to be among the bloodiest in the entire war, The Wall Street Journal writes.
Pokrovsk, once a mining center with a population of about 60,000, is now almost completely destroyed. Fierce street fighting continues in the city, and Ukrainian soldiers report that Russians are advancing in small groups - a few hundred at a time, establishing themselves in basements and the ruins of buildings.
"The closer you get to Pokrovsk, the more likely you are to lose your vehicle - and possibly your people," said an officer from the 68th Jaeger Brigade.
Ukrainian military officials acknowledge that in the city, the advantage in numbers and equipment lies with the Russians. Drones constantly buzz over Pokrovsk, and according to one officer, "for every Ukrainian drone, there are up to ten Russian ones."
"They dominate the skies - the drone buzz never stops, not even for a second," added an officer from the 25th Airborne Brigade.
The 'Price' of Pokrovsk
Ukraine denies Moscow's claim that its troops in the city are surrounded but acknowledges the extreme complexity of the situation. Analysts estimate that Pokrovsk could fall within weeks, although the pace of the Russian offensive remains slow.
"In this entire war, I have not seen them suffer such crazy losses and still continue to push," says a Ukrainian officer.
Many Ukrainian units in Pokrovsk are severely understaffed - some have only 20% of their authorized strength. One reconnaissance company commander reported that out of his twenty fighters, only five remain in action.
"Over time, the fighting becomes more difficult," he said. "There are more and more technologies aimed at killing people."
An officer from the 68th Brigade stated that it is time to retreat from the city:
"The losses are not worth it. They are simply senseless. There is not a single option, even with a lot of reinforcements, for us to take the city back."
Despite this, President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging not to give up positions.
"We must protect the soldier. That is the most important thing," he stated, but did not mention the possibility of retreat.
If Ukraine retreats from Pokrovsk, it will likely have to abandon neighboring Myrnohrad, which is already under threat of encirclement.
George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, believes that the fall of the city is not inevitable:
"Ukraine still has a chance to exhaust the Russians while suffering fewer losses."
The capture of Pokrovsk would be Moscow's biggest success since 2023 and would give the Kremlin a symbolic victory amid dictator Vladimir Putin's claims of the "inevitable defeat of Kyiv." However, analysts note that even with this achievement, the Kremlin's main goal - the subjugation of all of Ukraine - remains distant.
Pokrovsk Today - Important News
As reported by UNIAN, the wave of the Russian occupation forces' offensive in Pokrovsk at the end of October made the situation in the city and neighboring Myrnohrad hopeless for Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders are currently fighting for positions to extract their forces, some of which have found themselves encircled.
The Economist writes that the loss of Pokrovsk was expected, but it will still be a significant blow. Moreover, this city could become a launchpad for Russia's further advance.
