Russian forces have begun fighting inside the city of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region, tightening the noose around nearby Pokrovsk as Ukrainian defenses continue to collapse under sustained pressure.
On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its troops had entered the eastern districts of Myrnohrad (formerly known as Dimitrov) and captured the nearby village of Moskovske, located on the city’s eastern outskirts. This marks the first confirmed entry of Russian forces into Myrnohrad after they reached its outskirts late last year.
Myrnohrad is effectively the twin city of Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiysk), forming a single urban agglomeration that once served as a major logistical hub for Ukrainian forces operating across the Donbas. The two cities are connected by shared infrastructure and industry, making their defense strategically vital for Kiev’s remaining positions in the region.
According to multiple battlefield reports, all major routes of resupply into Myrnohrad are now either cut off or under Russian fire control. Ukrainian convoys attempting to reach the city face constant artillery and drone strikes, limiting the ability to rotate troops or deliver ammunition.
The situation in Pokrovsk itself is similarly dire. Around half of the city—mainly areas south of the railway line that divides it—has reportedly fallen under Russian control. Russian units have also crossed the rail line in the west and seized the E50 highway, the last major supply route into the city from the west. To the north, Russian troops have entered the town of Rodyns’ke, gaining fire control over the T0515 highway, further isolating Ukrainian defenders.
Russian military analysts have compared the situation around Pokrovsk to the battle for Avdeevka, which ended in a major Russian victory in February 2024. Should the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad urban area fall, it would enable Russian forces to push north and outflank the main Ukrainian defensive lines in the Donbas—potentially severing key communication and supply routes within 25 miles (42 kilometers) of Ukraine’s front-line positions.