Ukraine forces have reportedly killed over 1,000 soldiers in devastating counterattacks on the Pokrovsk front and are threatening to encircle three Russian units. The eastern city has seen some of the fiercest fighting over the past year, as Putin’s army desperately tries to seize the key logistical hub.
Dubbed by the Russians as the “gateway to Donetsk”, its capture would severely impact Ukraine’s ability to resupply its eastern army. The fall of Pokrovsk would also open the road to the other crucial fortress cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. The Russians appeared to have made a major breakthrough around Dobropillia earlier in the summer.
However, Ukraine’s army has fought back hard, launching a number of counteroffensives around the salient. Although the situation remains fluid and critical, Ukrainian soldiers appear to have pushed back the Russians in several areas and inflicted high casualties.
The latest successful counterattack took place in and around Pankivka, where the 1st Azov Corps confirmed it had cleared the area of Russian troops. In the process of reclaiming territory, the Ukrainian army has trapped Russian soldiers in several pockets.
Colonel Valentyn Manko, head of Ukraine’s Assault Troops Command, confirmed that Russian forces near Dobropillia have been cut off for three weeks.
He also said there are now three distinct pockets under Ukrainian control, with the Russians running out of ammunition and unable to receive fresh supplies or reinforcements.
During the battle for the Dobropillia salient, 1,322 Russian soldiers are reported to have been killed, with another 1,134 wounded.
President Zelensky paid a surprise visit to the Pokrovsk front to congratulate his army on its achievements.
He confirmed that 160 square kilometres have been fully liberated, another 171 square kilometres cleared but not yet consolidated, including 7 freed and 9 cleared settlements.
With three separate groups now encircled around Dobropillia, Ukrainian forces are well placed to mop them up.
Video images recorded by Ukraine’s army and shared to social media channels have shown some of the intense fighting raging around the eastern city. One clip shows a Russian motorcycle group being intercepted and wiped out by drones before it was able to reach the frontline.
