Russian forces have spent the past 18 months trying to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, but Ukraine’s military says it continues to hold its positions.
The main challenge for Ukraine’s Defense Forces around Pokrovsk is not enemy drones but Russia’s use of tactical aviation, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces said on Facebook.
According to the corps, in January 2026 around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, Russian aircraft dropped 1,340 aerial bombs on Ukrainian positions - an increase of 65% compared with December 2025.
Russian forces are not conserving KABs (guided aerial bombs), the unit said, citing a case in which Russian pilots dropped six KABs on a single Ukrainian mortar position.
Ukraine’s air defenses struggle to counter Russia’s tactical aviation because Russian jets release KABs tens of kilometers from the front line. Even with tactical or operational air-defense systems positioned near the front, Russian aircraft often remain outside their engagement range. As a result, Ukrainian troops are fighting under constant pressure from Russian tactical aviation, the corps said.
Russian forces have been trying to seize Pokrovsk for about 18 months, assembling around 150,000 troops near the city as of January 2026, according to Ukrainian officials. As of early February 2026, Ukraine says it holds the northern districts of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, while Russian forces are trying to cut Ukrainian supply lines.
Ukraine’s General Staff said that on February 4, Russian forces launched 29 assaults on the Pokrovsk axis; Ukrainian troops repelled all of them. Fighting took place near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Filiia and elsewhere.
