At Pokrovsk, Russians Suffer 30% More Losses, Attack Over "Carpet Of Corpses"

Pokrovsk's Ukrainian defenders have created a 'carpet of Russian corpses' over which the Kremlin is ordering its beleaguered troops to continue attacking, however fruitlessly. 

Russian casualties on that front increased 30% in September, as Ukrainian control of the skies expanded by kilometers the kill zones through which the Kremlin forces had to move to even reach the frontline. The Ukrainian drone advantage is growing even as Russia labors to find more cannon fodder. JL

David Axe reports in Trench Art and Ukraine Pravda report:

Russian troops are marching over a “carpet of corpses” as they try to reach the chaotic salient northeast of the fortress city of Pokrovsk. Russian infantry suffered almost 30% higher losses on the Pokrovsk front in September. ""The increase in enemy losses is not only the result of the enemy's unsuccessful attempts to capture Pokrovsk, but also of the coordinated actions of the defenders. We are expanding the boundaries of the 'kill zones', launching FPV drones several dozen kilometres into the enemy rear, intensifying strikes on their logistical corridors." The Russians have more troops but the Ukrainians have control of the air thanks to thousands of  drones operating on at least five different radio channels. 

Russian troops are marching over a “carpet of corpses” as they try to reach the chaotic salient northeast of the fortress city of Pokrovsk.

That’s according to Russian soldier Alexander Zaborovsky, whose account historian and analyst Chris O’Wiki helpfully translated and reposted.

The fighting in the 25-square-mile salient—extending from the neighboring villages of Nove Shakhove and Pankivka north to Kucheriv Yar—is sheer chaos as Ukrainian brigades and Russian regiments intermingle on a battlefield with no clear front line. 

 

Russian infantry suffered almost 30% higher losses on the Pokrovsk front in September within the defensive lines held by the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces, the corps said.

Details: Ukrainian forces are reported to have taken out 1,851 Russian troops (1,202 killed and 649 wounded) last month. In August, they wiped out 1,456 Russian soldiers (928 killed and 528 wounded).

In September, Pokrovsk defenders also destroyed three tanks, disabled 41 guns and multiple-launch rocket systems and shot down or forced down 3,248 aerial assets – drones and reconnaissance aircraft.

Reports indicate that 50% more Russian Shahed loitering munitions were downed in September than in August, thanks to the deployment of specialised interceptor drones over Pokrovsk.

Quote: "The increase in enemy losses is not only the result of the enemy's unsuccessful attempts to assault and capture Pokrovsk, but also of the coordinated actions of the defenders of the agglomeration.

We are studying the methods and nature of the enemy's infiltration actions. Based on our analysis, we are blocking attempts by new sabotage groups to penetrate Pokrovsk.

Thanks to the successful actions of drone crews, we are increasingly able to engage Russians in their areas of concentration and on approaches to our forces' forward positions. We are gradually expanding the boundaries of the 'kill zones', launching FPV drones several dozen kilometres into the enemy rear. We are intensifying strikes on the enemy in their logistical corridors.

If necessary, we allocate internal reserves to carry out assigned tasks."

Details: Units of the Corps are holding positions on Zvirove's southern outskirts, Ukrainian forces said. Cut-off blocking lines have been erected on the Russian avenues of advance, while search-and-destroy teams are taking out isolated Russian groups that penetrate the town.

The Corps said the Russians have not abandoned attempts to encircle Pokrovsk. Russian forces are increasing pressure to approach and attack Myrnohrad from the north and east. West of Pokrovsk, Russian soldiers have gained additional capability to cut one of the logistical routes.

The Russians aim to extend the salient north and west in order to surround Pokrovsk. The Ukrainians aim to stop them in order to forestall a wider Russian advance toward the twin cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. But the clarity of their respective missions belies the lack of clarity on the battlefield.

One Ukrainian soldier likened the fighting to “the penetration of atoms of one substance between the atoms of another.” The enemy could be in front of you or behind you—or both—at all times.

Conditions are nightmarish for both sides. The Russians have more troops but the Ukrainians have control of the air thanks to thousands of tiny drones operating on at least five different radio channels. The more channels, the harder it is to jam all the drones.