Analysts at DeepState say the city of Myrnohrad in the Pokrovsk district of Ukraine’s Donetsk region has shifted into a “gray zone,” meaning it is not controlled by either Russian or Ukrainian forces. Operational Command “East,” however, says Ukraine’s Defense Forces are holding their lines and eliminating Russian troops on the approaches to the city.
Information about the fighting in Myrnohrad is displayed on the DeepState map, updated on the evening of December 19. A day earlier, on December 18, analysts had marked a significant part of the city as controlled by Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
As of December 19, the entire Myrnohrad area on the DeepState map is labeled as a territory that requires data clarification.
Also as of December 19, DeepState reported advances by Russian forces near Dronivka and Siversk in the Donetsk region.
In addition, analysts say Russian troops have advanced around Vyshneve in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Operational Command (OC) “East” reported as of 10:00 on December 20 that in Myrnohrad, units of the Defense Forces continue to hold defensive lines and eliminate Russian troops on the city’s approaches.
“Additional logistical routes to Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are being organized to ensure uninterrupted supply to our units with everything necessary and for timely evacuation,” OC “East” said.
Ukraine’s General Staff said as of 8:00 on December 20 that on the Pokrovsk axis, Ukrainian troops stopped 45 Russian assault and offensive actions, including near Myrnohrad and Hryshyne. The General Staff also reported seven Russian attacks on Defense Forces positions on the Sloviansk axis in the areas of Serebrianka, Dronivka and toward Platonivka.
A soldier with the call sign “Muchnoy” said on his Telegram channel that on the Pokrovsk axis, Russian forces are besieging the village of Hryshyne, rushing in waves with small infantry groups and trying to consolidate deeper inside the settlement.
“In most cases they manage to do that - the southern part is already partially under enemy control; they’re dug in there and clinging to every yard,” the soldier said.
He added that the “gray zone” is expanding: Russians are “swarming” in Hryshyne, maneuvering and applying pressure from the flanks. Meanwhile, the Russians, according to Muchnoy, are working to envelop the center of Myrnohrad, where only isolated pockets of resistance by the Defense Forces remain.
“There’s no continuous line there anymore!” he said.
A senior lieutenant in Ukraine’s Defense Forces with the call sign “Alex” wrote on his Telegram channel “Officer” on the evening of December 19 that OSINT analysts’ description of the situation in Myrnohrad is roughly accurate, and personnel from certain units remain in the city and continue fighting.
“The zone of influence and presence of the Defense Forces is somewhat larger than depicted and is not limited to the urban area of Myrnohrad, but the big problem is the almost impossible logistics, which complicates supplying the troops and, over time, creates even more problems and worsens the situation,” the service member noted.
Earlier, veteran, senior lieutenant and expert Mykola Melnyk explained in an interview published on December 18 why the front near Siversk is “sagging.” He said Russian forces on that section are trying to cut logistics, as in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.
On December 15, Operational Command “East” said the situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad was “difficult,” but new logistical routes for the Defense Forces had been established along that stretch of the front.
