Russia moving into Pokrovsk with vehicles and deploying mortars – videos

Russian forces have been pushing into drone-surrounded Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast since at least 6 November, moving in on motorcycles and pickup trucks and deploying mortars in the city. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that attempts by Ukrainian special forces units to mop up the city were delayed and did not change the balance of forces in the city.

Source: three service members from the Pokrovsk front speaking to Ukrainska Pravda; videos of Russian convoys posted on social media; video by the Ukrainian drone unit Hostri Kartuzy

Details: The first mention of Russians entering the city in a military pickup truck, rather than on foot as before, can be found on the Telegram channel of Hostri Kartuzy. A short video shows Russians removing obstacles and advancing deeper into the city.

Firstly, the weather currently favours the Russians. Thick fog over Pokrovsk makes drone reconnaissance impossible. Secondly, the Russians have brought mortars into the city and are firing on positions of Ukrainian drone operators, making it difficult to monitor the city.

A video was posted on social media on 10 November showing Russians moving into the city in a whole column of motorcycles, vehicles and on foot. And no one was stopping them. Several sources confirmed the authenticity of the video to Ukrainska Pravda. It was filmed on the southern outskirts of the city, near the village of Novopavlivka and the exit towards Selydove.

Ukrainska Pravda has learnt that the Ukrainian defence forces did attempt to strike the column, but thick fog made operations extremely difficult.

Quote from source 1: "The Russians are already north of the railway lines [approximately the middle of Pokrovsk] – the hospital, the dachas. The enemy is consolidating gains. Special units can't fix this now – the enemy's all over the place. Every day up to 50 enemy troops are brought in along the main road from Selydove to Pokrovsk." [A dacha is a seasonal secondary residence, usually with a little plot of land, where people grow vegetables, fruit trees and berries or keep a garden – ed.]

Quote from source 2: "What could a dozen infantrymen achieve in such a huge city? Finally, everyone admitted they have lost Pokrovsk and stopped talking sh*t. The Russians have brought mortars into Pokrovsk and will now wipe out the positions of drone operators. Meanwhile, they are trying to push into Rivne [the village between Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad] and are constantly trying to enter Myrnohrad. They move in columns – though most of them are being wiped out – or in small groups, which brings them success."

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!