Ukraine’s army fights to hold Pokrovsk in a battle for territory and narratives

Russian forces are closing in on the strategically crucial Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, with both sides locked in intense block-by-block fighting that could determine the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, according to military commanders and analysts.

The battle has reached a critical stage, with Russian and Ukrainian troops sometimes contesting control of the same residential buildings in what has become some of the most brutal urban warfare of the conflict. Ukrainian commanders on the ground describe a dire situation as Russian forces have penetrated deep into the city.

“As of now there are no clear lines of defense, none that can obstruct soldiers from coming into the city,” said Serhii Filimonov, a commander of Ukraine’s Wolves of Da Vinci battalion. He estimates Russian forces now control more than 70% of Pokrovsk, a city that once served as a vital logistics hub for Ukrainian military operations in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the gravity of the situation last Friday. “The enemy began assault operations on the 5th of November and has continued conducting assaults… They have lost equipment, but the enemy’s number-one goal is to occupy Pokrovsk as quickly as possible. That goal remains,” he told reporters in Kyiv.

The potential fall of Pokrovsk represents more than just territorial loss. If captured, it could give Russian forces a pathway to seize the remainder of the Donbas region, fulfilling one of President Vladimir Putin’s primary war objectives. The city sits along Ukraine’s eastern front line within what military strategists call the “fortress belt” of Donetsk, a chain of heavily fortified cities including Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Druzhkivka that form a critical defensive barrier.

Russia’s advance on Pokrovsk is the culmination of over a year of grinding battles in which its forces pushed forward approximately 24 miles (39 kilometers), according to calculations by the Institute for the Study of War. The human cost has been staggering, with analysts suggesting thousands of soldiers have died on both sides during this campaign alone.

The battle has taken on heightened diplomatic significance as both Moscow and Kyiv attempt to influence U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s perception of the conflict. Putin has portrayed Russian forces as being on the verge of victory, demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region as a condition for peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has worked to counter this narrative, arguing that Russia’s costly advances don’t reflect a decisive military advantage. “Imagine how many Russian forces there are. But at the same time, they do not have the planned result,” Zelenskyy said last week when approximately 200 Russian soldiers breached Pokrovsk’s defenses.

“We understand why they need Pokrovsk. They only need it to say – look, after all, the idea that Ukraine leaves the east and gives everything else that they want is the only possible one, otherwise they will supposedly capture more,” he added.

Military experts suggest the battle’s outcome could significantly impact Trump’s approach to the conflict. “Trump does not like losers… he likes to be with the winners. This will be portrayed by the Russians as a major victory,” said Peter Dickinson, Ukraine editor at the Atlantic Council.

On the ground, Ukraine has deployed elite units in a desperate bid to hold the city. “All units that can battle are here right now, infantry, special forces and everybody else,” said Vadym Krykun, commander of the Lyubart brigade. “Everyone is doing their part.”

Ukrainian drone operator Hus from the 68th brigade highlighted Russia’s deployment of specialized drone units as particularly effective. “It’s become a duel of drone operators,” he explained.

Military analysts expect the battle to follow a familiar pattern seen elsewhere along Ukraine’s eastern front: Russia will continue flooding the city with troops until Ukrainian forces can no longer maintain their positions, while Ukraine’s military will attempt to inflict maximum casualties on the invading forces before an eventual withdrawal becomes inevitable.

The loss of Pokrovsk would represent a significant symbolic and propaganda victory for Moscow, even though much of the city’s military value has already been diminished by the destruction of key infrastructure. “It’s primarily a propaganda victory, a symbolic victory, a sort of psychological victory, perhaps, for the Russians,” Dickinson noted. “Putin desperately needs to be able to show that they’re making progress.”