Donetsk and Zaporizhia, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces are engaged in intense, exhausting battles against Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the towns of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, as Moscow pushes to expand control over strategic areas in Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.

Heavy Fighting in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii reported that nearly half of the fighting along the 1,200km frontline is concentrated in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. Russia has deployed approximately 150,000 troops, almost a quarter of its forces in Ukraine, to seize these towns.

Pokrovsk is seen by Russia as a gateway to the remaining unoccupied parts of Donetsk, captured in September 2022. Fighting in both towns has been fluid, with territory changing hands frequently in house-to-house combat.

“Here, one building is held by our side, the next occupied by the enemy, and in a few hours it swaps,” said a Ukrainian drone squad commander from the 68th Jaeger Brigade.

While Russians have captured the center of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian defenders maintain strongholds in the northern areas. In Myrnohrad, Russian troops have made minor gains in the east and north, but the majority of the town remains under Ukrainian control.

Strategic Encirclement

Both towns face encirclement from the north, south, and east, leaving westward routes as the only possible supply or retreat paths. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War emphasized that the operational impact depends on whether Ukraine conducts an orderly withdrawal or suffers a disorderly retreat, allowing Russia to exploit the situation.

Russian special forces have been targeting Ukrainian mortar crews and drone units, aiming to disrupt resupply and weaken defensive operations. Despite these pressures, Ukraine continues an “active defence”, using drones to strike thousands of Russian targets. Syrskii noted a 16% increase in short-range drone strikes in October, highlighting Ukraine’s persistent countermeasures.

Zaporizhia Front and Huliaipole

Russia has intensified offensives near Huliaipole, southwest of Pokrovsk, and Ukraine has been forced to abandon Rivnopillia amid fierce fighting. Other contested areas include Yablukove and surrounding villages in Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where Russia claims to have seized several towns, though many remain disputed.

Ukrainian Deep Strikes

Beyond the frontline, Ukraine continues to target Russian fuel and energy infrastructure to disrupt logistics:

• Volgograd refinery: Damaged by drones on November 6, halting operations of primary units.
• Belgorod: Substations struck, causing blackouts.
• Tuapse Black Sea port: Drone strike caused fires at oil terminals.
• Voronezh and Saratov: Refineries attacked, triggering explosions.

According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Russia suffers from gaps in air defence, leaving much of its territory vulnerable to Ukrainian drone strikes.

“Most of the enemy’s air defence is near the front and Moscow, creating significant gaps across Russia’s airspace,” Kovalenko said.

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Key Takeaways

• Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are central to the eastern Ukraine front, with intense house-to-house fighting.
• Ukrainian drones continue to inflict significant damage on Russian troops and supply lines.
• Russia’s partial air defence deployment leaves critical infrastructure exposed to Ukrainian strikes.
• The situation remains fluid, with neither side gaining decisive ground, but Ukrainian forces continue resilient resistance.