Russia's Dobropillia 'Spearhead' Cut Off, Encircled, Decimated

Russia's Pokrovsk sector 'spearhead' near Dobropillia has become less like a weapon and more like a trophy point mounted on a wall.

The Russian force that three weeks ago was considered a threat, has now been cut off, surrounded and is suffering severe casualties as its logistics have been bombed twisted piles of junk and its reserves are incapable of relieving it due to clever Ukrainian counterattacks which have turned the Russian units from an opportunity to a liability. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

Ukraine launched a penetration that pierced Russia’s exposed eastern Pokrovsk flank, catching their forces off balance. As the Russian lines crumbled, the Dobropillia offensive spearhead was cut off and isolated. Building off of saturation bombing, non-stop strikes in the rear, and ambushes of enemy units on the move, surveillance confirmed the Russian line was weak and logistics had almost completely collapsed. Ukrainian forces then pushed into the weakened Russian flank. With an established foothold in Novotoretske, this operation is evolving into an encirclement of the Russian assault force, and the momentum is now with Ukraine.

Today, there is important news from the Pokrovsk direction.

Here, Ukrainians launched a daring and calculated penetration operation that pierced through Russia’s exposed eastern flank, catching their forces off balance and driving deep into vulnerable territory. As the Russian lines crumbled under the pressure, the entire offensive spearhead was cut off and isolated—putting the final nail into the coffin of Russia’s Dobropillia offensive and marking a turning point in the battle for the southern front.

The operation was launched with the clear objective to secure the important high ground first and then use it to penetrate deep into Russian defenses to collapse the Russian salient and create another encirclement. To achieve this, the Ukrainian officers opted for an infiltration approach with small infantry groups moving stealthily through Russian defensive gaps.

Building off of Ukrainian saturation tactics, non-stop strikes in the rear, and ambushes of enemy units on the go, the Russian line was weaker than it could ever be. Ukrainian surveillance confirmed that Russian logistics had almost completely collapsed, and once identified, Ukrainian forces began pushing into the salient’s weak left flank.

If we take a look at the topographic map, we can see that to successfully penetrate Russian lines and cut off the salient, Ukrainians first had to secure the high ground to prevent any Russian assault from behind.

Drone reconnaissance revealed that Russian defenders in the settlement of Zatyshok were spread dangerously thin, with groups of only two or three soldiers covering entire sectors. Additionally, Zatyshok lies in lower terrain surrounded on three sides by elevated ground, as Ukrainians aimed to first push Russians off the highland and launch their assault from above. This would not only give them better firing positions but also provide stronger drone signal coverage and therefore extensive FPV and reconnaissance support. From above, Russian movements were tracked with precision even by frontline units, making concealment nearly impossible.

Footage from the operation captured how Ukrainian FPV drones initially pinpointed Russian hideouts in basements and small structures scattered across the settlement. Once the drones struck, panic set in, and Russian troops abandoned their shelters, scrambling for safety in the surrounding tree lines.

This proved to be a fatal mistake as Ukrainian drone operators simply shifted their attention to the fleeing soldiers, hammering them with further precision strikes.

Amid the chaos, a small group of four Ukrainian infantrymen advanced downhill into the settlement. Their mission was not only to clear resistance but also to capture survivors.

In the first encounter, a demoralized Russian soldier surrendered instantly, showing clear psychological exhaustion. Two others resisted, leading to a brief but sharp firefight that ended with their surrender as well. By the end of the combat mission, nine Russian soldiers had been captured in Zatyshok alone. They were given food and medical assistance before being marched back toward Ukrainian lines, an image later confirmed by thermal drone footage showing the prisoners being escorted under guard. Weapons, documents, and other intelligence were seized, offering valuable insight into Russian deployments and orders in the area.

As a result of these operations, Ukrainians successfully pushed Russians off the high ground and extended the grey zone into Zatyshok.

The success not only burned through local Russian defenses but also secured the flank and allowed Ukrainian assault units to reach Novotoretske. Raining down hell from above, Ukrainian forces enjoy improved observation and fire control, making it even harder for Russian reinforcements to reestablish cohesion in this sector.

Overall, the latest reports show that heavy fighting continues in the area; however the situation looks increasingly precarious for the Russians. If Ukrainian troops manage to consolidate their new positions and press deeper, they could sever the salient entirely, trapping yet another large pocket of enemy troops. This would be a serious blow to Russia’s attempts to mount a breakthrough toward Dobropillia. With an established foothold in Novotoretske, this Ukrainian operation is evolving into a complete encirclement of the main Russian assault force, and the momentum is now with Ukraine.