Russia’s armed forces are attempting to cut the logistical routes of Ukraine’s defense forces in the Pokrovsk agglomeration. To achieve that goal, Russian troops are pushing deep into Ukrainian positions in small groups and even managed to take one nearby settlement. Ukrainian forces say they drove them from those new positions, and the General Staff reported 50 attacks.
To prevent further advances, Ukrainian troops are laying mines along approaches to their positions and deploying “wing-type” drones, according to a statement from the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces posted on Facebook. The unit’s commander and soldiers say they are taking measures to stop Russian troops, who have stepped up activity in the Pokrovsk agglomeration. Focus gathered additional details from the area: the movement of Russian forces appeared on a DeepState analysts’ map, and Ukraine’s command reported dozens of assaults.
The Air Assault unit’s statement, which holds the line near Pokrovsk, appeared on the morning of September 22. The post included video of a series of strikes on Russian targets. The footage shows Russian troops moving alone through town streets, dirt roads and tree lines. Barbed wire blocking parts of the terrain and hits by attack drones are visible. The location is identified as one of the villages in the Pokrovsk agglomeration.
Ukrainian troops said Russian forces are trying to block logistics routes and are sending forward small groups to do so. Paratroopers described that tactic as infiltration. They said Russians used it to capture an unspecified settlement in the Pokrovsk agglomeration - but only briefly.
“Recently, a group of occupiers managed to slip into one of the settlements in the Pokrovsk agglomeration. As a result of the measures taken, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated the Russians. There is no threat of an enemy buildup in this settlement,” the statement said.
The Air Assault troops said Russia is using around 600 drones daily — both attack and FPV models. In response, Ukrainian forces are stopping them with wing-type drones, remotely mining potential routes of advance, deploying fire groups, and covering threatened directions with UAV crews. Additional engineering obstacles are erected if needed.
“All our actions are aimed not only at stopping the enemy’s advance but also at preserving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. The 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces controls the situation in close coordination with senior command,” the unit wrote.
The Pokrovsk agglomeration includes, in addition to Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, Myrnohrad, Novohrodivka, and the Dobropilskyi, Pokrovskyi, and Mezhivskyi districts. Ukrainian forces did not specify which settlement Russians managed to enter.
DeepState analysts updated the combat line in Pokrovsk on September 21. They assessed that Russian forces advanced about 200 meters on the town’s southern edge and are moving along Pryvolna Street. Another gray zone has appeared along Kyivska Street, slightly farther east. The map also shows the fighting has long reached the E50 logistics route that runs through the city.
On the morning of September 22, Ukraine’s General Staff said there were 49 Russian assaults in the Pokrovsk sector over the past day near 10 settlements.
Meanwhile, there were 87 Russian attacks on September 19, and 50 and 52 attacks on September 20 and 21, respectively.
On September 18, a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign “Muchnoy” described Russia’s tactics in the push toward Pokrovsk. He believes the plan is to cut logistics along the E50 highway and the O0525 road (via Hryshyne). Among other impacts, he said the situation could worsen for Myrnohrad, making it harder for defenders to evacuate the wounded and deliver ammunition.
