The Low-Down: Surrounded Russian Dobropillia Pockets Being Systematically Eliminated By Ukraine

After the initial Russian incursion around Dobropillia north of Pokrovsk, the quick and brutally efficient Ukrainian counterattack resulted in three separate pockets of encircled Russian units. The Ukrainians have now eliminated two of the three pockets, moving from north to south (most isolated to less) in succession.

The third remaining pocket at Shakhove, has now become a Ukrainian kill zone. Multiple Russian armored attacks have been repulsed with heavy losses of men and equipment while the originally entrapped Russians remain cut off with dwindling supplies of food, medicine and ammunition. The question now is when Ukraine plans to move in for the kill. JL

Decimus reports in Daily Kos:

Russia’s advance into what is now known as the Dobropilya Salient was quickly cut off and carved up into three surrounded pockets by the Ukrainians who first cleaned up the top pocket near Zolotyi Kolodiaz. Many Russians were eliminated, others surrendered. This week, the Ukrainians have cleared out the second pocket with the capture of Kucheriv Yar, taking 50 Russians as prisoners. That leaves the third pocket near Shakhove where Ukraine has created a kill zone. Russian armor columns have attacked nearby Volodymyrivka in a desperate attempt to salvage troops and what is left of the pocket. The attacks on Shakhove failed completely, resulting in heavy Russian equipment losses, with all Russian troops in Volodymyrivka destroyed.
Nearly four years on and the Ukrainians are doing it again … you can come in but you cannot leave. This time in Western Donetsk oblast, specifically North and East of Pokrovsk. Russia’s advance into the teeth of the Ukrainian defense which is now known as the Dobropilya Salient was quickly cut off and carved up into three separate surrounded pockets by the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians steadily cleaned up the top most pocket near Zolotyi Kolodiaz(“Golden Well”) an area featuring lakes and other water obstacles which would probably be nightmarish for anyone not familiar with the local geography. Many of the Russians in that pocket were eliminated, several others surrendered.
This afternoon(October 22, 2025) brought news that the Ukrainians have cleared out the second pocket with the capture of Kucheriv Yar(“Coach man’s ravine”):
Ukrainian paratroopers liberate Kucheriv Yar on the Dobropillia front, capture more than 50 Russians – video
Units of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces, including the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, have liberated the village of Kucheriv Yar on the Dobropillia front.
During the operation, Ukrainian forces captured more than 50 Russian troops. Soldiers have raised the Ukrainian flag over the liberated village.
www.pravda.com.ua/...
I recently posted a diary(October 1, 2025) indicating that during his last council of war with his young corps commanders at Pokrovsk, everything about General Syrskyi’s demeanor seemed to indicate that he wants the pockets of the salient finished off:
ADAPTIVE INDOMITABLE UKRAINE. Sirskyi Huddles with his Young Commanders, Again. Something is Coming.
That look on the Commander-in-Chief’s face and his emphatic pointing at the illuminated theater map they’re standing on seem to say “Let’s finish it. Now. Time for the last round up.” The now three salients in which the Ukrainians have trapped the Russians at Pokrovsk-Dobropililya have lingered long enough.
And so it is that the second pocket is now done and dusted. That leaves the third pocket near Shakhove(aka the Shakhove Pocket). For those here who have kept abreast of the doings around Pokrovsk, the past week brought news of sudden appearance of huge Russian armor columns and other mechanized units making a bee line for the area around Volodymyrivka. This in many respects was/is Russia’s desperate attempt to salvage its troops and what is left of the third pocket as well as keeping alive vestiges of that northern pincer around Pokrovsk. On October 20, 2025, one Russian assault column reportedly broke into the village of Volodymyrivka southwest of Shakhove, while another reached the eastern outskirts of Shakhove itself. However, these attacks resulted in heavy Russian equipment losses. Ukrainian sources claim that all Russian troops in Volodymyrivka were destroyed and that the attack on Shakhove failed completely:
Twenty-two tanks rolled to the fight. Ukraine’s drones saw—and ended their might.
Russian marines tried to captured the village of Shakhove, northeast of Pokrovsk on Thursday—and failed, dramatically.
But the attack, involving 22 armored vehicles from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, hinted at new tactics that, with better timing and a little luck, could help the Russians break through around Pokrovsk as their wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 44th month.
The Russians made several surprising moves as they prepared two separate columns with T-80BVM tanks and BTR-82A wheeled infantry fighting vehicles laden with infantry.
euromaidanpress.com/...
The strategic importance of Shakhove lies in its role as a central defense and logistics hub within the Shakhove area north of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces have established a network of several heavily fortified trench lines around the village, which forces Russian vehicles to travel along predictable, narrow routes that are easily targeted by Ukrainian drones, artillery, and air-dropped mines, creating a brutal kill zone. This terrain advantage has allowed Ukrainian forces to inflict significant casualties on Russian mechanized units despite their numerical superiority.