Pokrovsk was a prosperous miners’ city of 60,000 people. Now, it’s at the epicenter of the current war between Russia and Ukraine. As Russian forces began surrounding Pokrovsk by gathering 110,000 troops in the area, the strategic value of Pokrovsk grew even greater. For almost a year, Russia has fought viciously in hopes of taking the city. This place is extremely important because it connects the most important supply highways and railroads to the other major military cities in the area.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the majority of Pokrovsk’s residents have fled. Yet there is still a large infrastructure of direct employees of the city’s last operating coking coal mine who are committed to seeing it survive. This mine is critical to Ukraine’s continued production of industrial base during the ongoing war with the Russian aggressor.
President Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, has given the bad news. Rather than launching a frontal assault on Pokrovsk, Russian troops are seeking to encircle the city from the south and northeast. The region was recently called the “hottest place to be” on the long, wide front line stretching 1,200 kilometres across east Ukraine. Tempers are flaring as the ugly scenario is unfolding. Syrskyi further underscored that Moscow has greater manpower and heavy weapons. For the moment, Russian forces appear stymied in their attempts to take full control of Pokrovsk.
They are looking to do this not just to reach a handful of operational outcomes, but back again for demonstrative purposes. To achieve a psychological effect: to put the infamous ‘foot of the Russian soldier’ there, plant a flag and trumpet another pseudo-‘victory,’ said Syrskyi in a statement to reporters.
In recent months, Kyiv and its allies have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling peace negotiations while his military seeks to seize more territory within the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This strategy has raised legitimate concerns over a significant escalation in the conflict. Russian forces have made it a point to attempt to penetrate the industrial administrative border of Donetsk.
During the height of the Kursk operation, Ukrainian defenders managed to hold back almost four times the number of Russian soldiers, around 63,000. Despite the Russians amassing huge concentrations of troops and weapons along the line near Pokrovsk, Ukraine is still on high alert, prepared to defend itself. The ongoing situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by both sides as they navigate the prolonged conflict.
