Despite the Kremlin’s high-profile declaration that Pokrovsk had been “taken,” Ukraine continues to hold parts of the city, and the pace of Russia’s advance has notably slowed.
A week has passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly announced the capture of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s defense forces still control portions of the city, and Russian troops on this axis show signs of strain.
The OSINT mapping project DeepState says Ukrainian defense forces remain present in the northern and eastern parts of Pokrovsk. About half of the settlement is a gray zone, meaning active combat is underway there.
Analysts say Putin rushed to claim Pokrovsk to showcase a military success amid talks with Washington over a peace plan. But the situation on the ground appears far from what the Kremlin asserted — a view shared not only by Ukrainian and international military experts but also by pro-war Russian war channels on Telegram.
Under Ukrainian control is not only part of Pokrovsk but also the neighboring city of Myrnohrad, despite intense Russian attempts to break through there.
DeepState estimates that over the past week Russia advanced by roughly 33 square kilometers around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, yet nearly half of Pokrovsk remains a gray zone, and Ukrainian defenders continue to hold positions in the north. The total weekly gain along the entire front was about 92 square kilometers — the most modest in the past five weeks.
Military experts assess that Russia’s forces are slowing as Ukraine has managed to stabilize several critical sectors, notably around Vovchansk, Huliaipole, and Pokrovsk. Clearing fog has also allowed Ukrainian forces to step up drone use on the battlefield.
Even so, the overall picture remains challenging for Ukraine.
Pokrovsk is not the first time Russian leadership has announced victories that don’t align with available evidence. Alongside Pokrovsk, the Kremlin also claimed the capture of Vovchansk, but DeepState’s maps indicate roughly a third of that city remains under Ukrainian control.
A similar pattern is seen in Chasiv Yar. Putin declared it “liberated” in the summer, yet a significant part of the city is still held by Ukrainian forces.
Putin’s recent remark that “Kupiansk is effectively already under Russian control” also does not match the situation on the ground. Analysts say about half of the city remains outside Russian hands.
