Russian forces have reportedly completed the encirclement of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, trapping thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in what appears to be a major battlefield setback for Kiev.
By Thursday, multiple reports indicated that Russian troops had taken control of nearly all of Pokrovsk, with units advancing from the northern outskirts linking up—or coming within several hundred meters—of those moving south from the nearby town of Rodinske. The advance effectively cut off Ukrainian forces positioned in Pokrovsk’s twin city of Mirnograd, located about three kilometers to the east, along with troops scattered in the fields between the two urban areas.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed on Wednesday that its forces had seized more than 60 buildings in Mirnograd as operations continued to close the pocket. Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly attempting to break out of the encirclement in small groups at night under the cover of darkness.
Video footage circulating on social media Thursday appeared to show Russian troops dismantling Ukrainian fortifications in central Pokrovsk. The relaxed demeanor of the soldiers in the footage suggested the city was firmly under Russian control.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi have publicly denied that an encirclement has occurred. Earlier this week, Zelensky described reports of Russian control as “exaggerated,” claiming that only a few hundred Russian troops had entered the city and were being “hunted down.”
Western media outlets have begun to note growing concern over Zelensky’s reluctance to acknowledge the deteriorating situation on the battlefield. Some analysts suggest that he is hesitant to alarm Washington, particularly President Donald Trump, who was reportedly assured earlier this year that Ukraine maintained the advantage.
If Russian forces fully consolidate their control of Pokrovsk, they will gain the ability to maneuver westward or northward, potentially threatening Ukrainian communication and supply lines across the eastern Donbas and into the Zaporizhia region.