Hundreds of Russian troops have launched a dramatic, unorthodox assault on the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, appearing to advance in a manner reminiscent of the 'Mad Max' film series, according to video footage released by Russian sources.
The 'Mad Max' Offensive Unfolds
The visually striking footage, which emerged on social media on November 10, 2025, depicts Russian soldiers rolling through thick fog on motorbikes, with some positioned on the roofs of battered cars and vans. This unconventional convoy was reportedly heading towards the cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. While the exact date of the video is yet to be independently verified by Reuters, Ukraine has officially acknowledged the presence of these Russian troops on its territory.
The battle for control of Pokrovsk is not new; it has been raging for well over a year. The city's significance lies in its position as a strategic point on a major road and rail artery in the Donetsk region, a key objective in Vladimir Putin's campaign to seize the entirety of Ukraine's industrial east, known as the Donbas.
Intensified Fighting and Strategic Manoeuvres
Ukrainian military officials stated that approximately 300 Russian soldiers are now inside Pokrovsk. They reported that Moscow has intensified its efforts to infiltrate more troops over recent days, strategically using dense fog as cover from Ukrainian drone surveillance. Ukrainian forces are currently engaged in combat with these Russian groups within the city.
Moscow's strategic goal is clear. Russian media has dubbed Pokrovsk "the gateway to Donetsk". Capturing it would provide a platform for Russian forces to push north towards the two largest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in the region: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Open-source battlefield maps indicate that Russia has executed a pincer movement around Pokrovsk and was close to encircling it, though Kyiv has launched counter-attacks near the town of Dobropillia.
According to Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russia is concentrating a massive force of some 150,000 troops in the push to capture Pokrovsk.
Conflicting Accounts and Wider Frontline Pressure
Accounts of the battle's status differ sharply between Moscow and Kyiv. While Russian sources have claimed for days that the city is surrounded, Ukrainian officials deny that Moscow has full control, asserting as recently as Monday that they were still able to supply the neighbouring city of Myrnohrad.
The pressure is not limited to Pokrovsk. On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the difficult situation, stating on X: "The front: our main focus right now is on the Pokrovsk direction and the Zaporizhzhia region, where the Russians are increasing the number and scale of assaults." He cited challenging weather conditions that favour the attackers but affirmed Ukraine's continued resistance.
Russia also claims its forces have taken full control of the eastern part of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, including an oil depot and a series of train stops. Furthermore, Russian troops reportedly seized the settlement of Novouspenivske in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, with Ukraine citing over 400 artillery strikes per day as the reason for its withdrawal from some villages. Russia's military now claims to control more than 19% of Ukrainian territory.
