Russia-Ukraine War

What we know now about the 'encirclement' of Ukraine's Pokrovsk
War

What we know now about the 'encirclement' of Ukraine's Pokrovsk

by Francis Farrell

Russian soldiers have advanced further into the city of Pokrovsk, threatening not only to take the city, but to complete a larger encirclement of the surrounding area, as independent analysts and commanders report a serious deterioration of the Ukrainian position in the area. The defense of the major city in Donetsk Oblast, which has held out for over a year of heavy fighting as one of the main hotspots of the front line, looks to have begun falling apart as Russian soldiers in their hundreds h

News Feed

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 41

Editor’s note: This is issue 41 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Oct. 30–Nov. 6, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. IMF benchmarks and soft commitments Customs head selection process moves forward The selection commission for Ukraine’s new head of State Customs Service ha

Russia’s new drone threat making it harder than ever for journalists to cover Ukraine war

With incessant Russian drones flying all over areas near the front that once were safer, it has become increasingly difficult for journalists covering the war in Ukraine to keep doing their jobs. In October alone, three journalists were killed and five were wounded while working in eastern Donetsk Oblast. The Russian attacks happened relatively far from the front, sometimes more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) away. “October 2025 showed a new risk for journalists with an increase in Russian firs

One night with interceptor drone squad hunting Russian Shaheds

As winter approaches and Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system intensify, a small unit from the 3rd Army Corps spends sleepless nights hunting long-range Shahed drones on the front line in Kharkiv Oblast — before they reach Ukrainian cities.

Most Popular

1.

Ukrainian forces continue to stubbornly defend the pocket around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, despite relentless Russian assaults in and around the two cities, leading to an ever-increasing threat of encirclement. Over two weeks since Russian soldiers were filmed breaking into the urban area of the mining city in Donetsk Oblast en masse, the city has descended into a deep gray zone, in which the concept of territorial control is lost in a fog of chaotic movement. "The situation hasn't changed that

News Feed