In the Battle for Pokrovsk, a Strategic Enterprise of Ukraine's Metallurgy Was Lost

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Publiation data: 04.12.2025 14:53

Все, что осталось от некогда процветавшего города.

Before the war, the city was an important logistics center through which key supply routes passed.

Pokrovsk remains one of the hottest front lines in recent weeks. Despite conflicting statements from both sides about control over different parts of the city, Moscow already claims to have taken it completely.

Sky News explains why this settlement has become a critically important point of defense for Ukraine.

Key to Donbas and Major Fortress Cities

Russian media refers to Pokrovsk as the "gateway to Donetsk."

Its capture would be the biggest success for the Russian Federation since the fall of Avdiivka. Before the war, the city was an important logistics center through which key supply routes for the Ukrainian army passed. Its loss will significantly limit the Armed Forces of Ukraine's ability to maneuver and hold positions, including in the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region.

The capture of Pokrovsk could provide Russian forces with a foothold for further advances on:

Chasiv Yar, an important defensive hub on the heights;
Sloviansk and Kramatorsk - the main fortress cities of Donbas;
other territories that Ukraine still controls in the region.

Analysts note that Russia has long struggled to break through the Ukrainian line of fortress cities, and that is why even a partial breakthrough in this area could become a strategic success.

Change of Tactics: "Pinching Maneuver"

Unlike the mass attacks previously employed by the Russian Federation, Russian troops are now using a tactic of gradual encirclement. Smaller groups of infantry and drones constantly pressure Ukrainian positions, attempting to disrupt defenses before the main forces arrive.

The Ukrainian side claims that the enemy is suffering significant losses but acknowledges that the situation around the city remains complex.

Importance of the Moment

Fighting for Pokrovsk intensified precisely when Steve Whitcoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, arrived in Moscow. Against the backdrop of diplomatic efforts to unblock negotiations, Russia seeks to demonstrate successes on the front.

Before the full-scale invasion, the population of Pokrovsk was about 60,000 people, and the nearby mine remained the largest producer of coking coal in Ukraine, which is vital for metallurgy.

According to the Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "East," Russian invaders made another attempt to raise a flag in Pokrovsk to create a propaganda illustration of the alleged capture of the city.

According to the monitoring project DeepState, Russian occupiers are trying to spread out across Pokrovsk and its surroundings, attempting to establish physical control in the area. The overall situation remains critical, but the battle for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad continues.