SELYDOVE, Donetsk Oblast – “Kostia! Kostia?” Despite their volume, the volunteer’s calls dissipate in the strong winds coursing through the central streets of Selydove. This is the most dangerous part of any evacuation operation in a front-line city: making visual contact with civilians who have agreed to leave. Russian soldiers
Key developments on Oct. 4: * Oil depots on fire in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, Perm Krai * Russian forces less than 7 km away from Pokrovsk, authorities say * At least 177 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian captivity, Kyiv says * EU readies to sanction Iran over missile shipments to Russia, Bloomberg reports
Over the past week, the average number of Russian attacks on the frontline has been 167 per day, with 50% of them targeting the Donetsk direction of the front line, according to Estonian military intelligence.
Russian forces are less than 7 kilometers from the outskirts of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast as of Oct. 4, said Serhii Dobriak, the head of Pokrovsk's military administration.
Russian forces appear to have shot 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Donetsk Oblast, the largest recorded case of mass execution of surrendered soldiers on the battlefield, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said on Oct. 1.
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko visited Pokrovsk and joined volunteers evacuating civilians from neighboring Selydove, stranded due to Russia’s rapid advance.
Capturing the major logistics hub of Pokrovsk is a key objective of Russia's ongoing offensive in Donetsk Oblast. The Kyiv Independent joined Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the sector as they are fending off constant Russian attacks.
Editor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. POKROVSK DISTRICT, Donetsk Oblast – Marked by wide plumes of gray smoke on the horizon, the open fields stretching out southeast of the city of
Russian attacks have cut off gas and water supplies to the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Sept. 12.
Key developments on Sept. 9: * Russia claims capture of town near Pokrovsk, Kyiv says fighting ongoing in the area * Sweden includes Gripen jet spare parts in new $443 million military aid package for Ukraine * Latvia confirms Russian Shahed drone armed with explosive crashed on its territory * Iran denies sending ballistic
Serhii Tsehotskyi, an officer with Ukraine's 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Sept. 2 that the military command decided to withdraw from Novohrodivka because the town had "an unfavorable geographical location."
Key developments on Sept. 7-8: * Russian offensive near Pokrovsk reportedly slowing down * Zelensky: Ukraine building underground weapons factories * Ukrainian drones hit ammunition warehouse in Russia's Voronezh Oblast * Death toll of Russian Sept. 3 attack on Poltava rises to 58 * Russian drone violates Romanian airspace during Sept. 8 attack on Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur explains the top stories of the week, from the resignation of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to the "stalled" Russian advance near Pokrovsk.
Citing data from defense analysts, Agentstvo backed Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi's recent claims that Moscow's push near the key town is losing steam.
Russian forces seem to have summarily executed a group of surrendering Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk in late August, CNN reported on Sept. 6, publishing an exclusive video.
Key developments on Sept. 5: * Russian advance near Pokrovsk stalled in recent days, Syrskyi says * Russia pulls 60,000 troops to counter Kursk incursion, Zelensky claims * Officials say 55 killed, 328 injured in Poltava as rescue operations conclude * Romanian president signs decree on donating Patriot to Ukraine * Belarus confirms downing
"Over the last six days, the enemy hasn’t advanced a single meter in the Pokrovsk direction. In other words, our strategy is working," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
As Russian troops approach Pokrovsk, fear mounts over a possible loss of what had long been a key logistic hub tucked away in safety in Donetsk Oblast. The war has arrived in Pokrovsk, once home to 60,000 people, with the Russians estimated to be about eight kilometers away. Thousands
Pokrovsk's train station is closed for civilian evacuations due to a deteriorating security situation, Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Sept. 5.
Key developments on Sept. 2: * Russia launches missile strike on Kyiv * Russia has no advance near Pokrovsk over past 2 days, Zelensky claims * Poland has right to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine for national security, Polish FM says * Dutch PM makes surprise visit to Ukraine, announces new aid package
As the world watched Ukraine’s stunning cross-border offensive into Kursk Oblast, celebrating an unexpected blow to Moscow, Russian forces advanced with alarming speed in Ukraine’s east. One month later, new front lines in the Russian border region formed in the wake of the Kursk incursion have begun to
"We believe that the Kursk operation can also affect the (Pokrovsk) direction, where the pressure may be reduced due to a decrease in the number of Russian troops," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity. Even as Ukraine's daring incursion into Russian territory brought the full-scale war back to the headlines around the world, Moscow's forces keep grinding on the eastern front, with dire implications for the entire Donbas region. Though Kyiv's operation achieved an
Russian troops accelerated their advance toward Pokrovsk over the last week and are likely within 10 kilometers from the edge of the town, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence report on Sept. 1.
DONETSK OBLAST – Gasping for air from a trench in eastern Ukraine, an infantryman was ready for the worst when a suffocating white smoke spread into his position. A Russian drone had just dropped a gas grenade into the trench, an internationally banned practice in warfare used to suffocate Ukrainian soldiers
Key developments on Aug. 29: * F-16 fighter jet crashes in Ukraine, military confirms * Fighting near Pokrovsk 'exceptionally brutal,' Syrskyi says * Russian troops forced to retreat in Vovchansk after failed assault preparations, Ukraine says * 'Systems are there, what is lacking is final go' — Kuleba urges partners not to delay Patriot
"The enemy throws everything that can move and advance into the battle, trying to break through the defenses of our troops," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
"Starting Monday (Sep. 2), only ATMs will work (in Pokrovsk). There will be no banks. This also applies to all areas of other services that cater for our population," Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
Russian troops were advancing faster in the Pokrovsk sector before the Kursk operation started, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference on Aug. 27 in response to a question by the Kyiv Independent.
One of the objectives of Ukraine's Kursk Oblast operation was to divert a significant number of Russian forces from other sectors, primarily from the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Aug. 27.
Key developments on Aug. 23: * Ukraine withdraws from positions near Pokrovsk to avoid Russian encirclement, ISW says * Ukraine confirms sinking of Russian ferry in Kerch Strait * U.S. targets around 400 individuals, entities in Russia, third countries in new sanctions package * Norway to finance production of NATO-standard artillery shells in
Pokrovsk is an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian forces that supports their operations in Donetsk Oblast.
