Ukrainian Forces Hold In Pokrovsk As Russians Attempt Repeat Infiltration

Small Russian units continue to infiltrate Pokrovsk from the south even as Ukrainian forces are gaining ground to the city's north. The Russians are reportedly avoiding direct combat, hiding in basements and posting on social media in an attempt to bolster the increasingly desperate Kremlin's claim that they are advancing. 

There does not appear to be Russian control of any section of the city as the success of the Ukrainians in destroying Russian assaults over open ground outside the city has made it impossible for them to establish anything more than fleeting and confused building by building conflicts. The larger question is what value Pokrovsk holds anymore and whether Ukraine is best advised strategically to now withdraw to its strong defensive ring on high ground around the city. JL 

Yevhen Kizilov reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Russian troops have not been able to entrench themselves in Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and Moscow's claims that the city is encircled are false, according to the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces. "The Russians have resumed their 'flag-mast tactic' on our front – putting up their flag and posting videos of it on social media. The use of this psyop, along with false claims by the enemy's political figures that the city has been 'encircled', only serves to show that they want to pass off wishful thinking as reality." Russian infantry in Pokrovsk are avoiding direct engagements, building up inside the urban area and shifting positions, which makes detecting and destroying them the priority task.

Russian troops have not been able to entrench themselves in Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and Moscow's claims that the city is encircled are false, according to the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces and Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Quote from the Air Assault Forces: "The occupiers are not consolidating within the districts of the city of Pokrovsk, they are moving around periodically, sometimes wearing civilian clothes."

Details: The Air Assault Forces said Ukraine's defence forces are continuing the operation to counter the Russian troops who have managed to infiltrate and build up in Pokrovsk.

On 29 October, Ukrainian forces killed 13 Russian troops in Pokrovsk, four of them at the sign that marks the north-western entrance to the city.

Quote from the Air Assault Forces: "After a long silence, the Russians have resumed their 'flag-mast tactic' on our front – putting up their rag of a flag and posting videos of it on social media. The use of this primitive psyop, along with false claims by the enemy's political figures that the city has been 'encircled', only serves to show that they want to pass off wishful thinking as reality."

More details: The Air Assault Forces said that logistics in Pokrovsk are still possible, although they are hampered by the large number of Russian FPV drones in the skies.

Russian forces are also active around the city of Myrnohrad. In Pokrovsk the Russians are mainly attacking with infantry, while near Myrnohrad they are both using infiltration routes on several defensive lines and openly deploying armoured vehicles.

Quote from the Air Assault Forces: "Recently the Russians carried out another mechanised assault. During the enemy attack, our troops destroyed five armoured vehicles and two other vehicles and killed at least 14 occupiers, including eight on the outskirts of Myrnohrad."

More details: Syrskyi said that Russian forces "are stepping up their activity" in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration.

Quote from Syrskyi: "The situation is difficult, but Russian propaganda claims that Ukraine's defence forces in Pokrovsk and Kupiansk have been 'blocked' are untrue."

More details: Syrskyi said the Russian infantry in Pokrovsk are avoiding direct engagements, building up inside the urban area and shifting positions, which makes detecting and destroying them the priority task.

He said he has "issued the necessary orders" and, with regard to improving logistics, has separately tasked commanders with strengthening protection for supply and evacuation routes.