The fierce battle for eastern Ukraine has reached a critical juncture as Russian forces threaten to completely surround the strategically vital towns of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in the Donbas region. This development comes amid reports of a peace plan being presented to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though fighting continues to intensify around these fiercely defended Ukrainian positions.
The Closing Trap
Geolocated footage verified by Sky News shows Russian soldiers operating within the Shakhtarskyi neighbourhood on Pokrovsk's outskirts as recently as Thursday. The video evidence provides a stark visual representation of Moscow's slow but steady encroachment on this key frontline area.
Russian forces are now advancing on Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk's satellite town and one of its last remaining outposts. According to analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian units are pressing from all directions, leaving just a single withdrawal corridor to the northwest of Myrnohrad estimated by military experts to be only 3km wide.
This precarious escape route is constantly monitored by Russian drone units hunting for vehicles and individuals attempting to flee on foot. The systematic closure of this corridor represents a deliberate Russian strategy to isolate Ukrainian defenders.
Months of Relentless Pressure
George Barros, Russia Team & Geospatial Intelligence Team Lead at ISW, explained to Sky News that Moscow's approach in Pokrovsk has involved gradually eroding Ukrainian logistical capacity over several months using drones and artillery.
"After denying supply lines and degrading the frontline forces by essentially cutting them off from behind and starving them out in their positions, then the Russians move forward with their infantry and frontal assaults," Barros detailed.
Russian advances on Myrnohrad began in late October, with verified videos from October 29 showing a Russian tank attempting to enter the town from the northeast before being destroyed. The timeline of Russian penetration includes:
- Ground forces appearing in the town's south by November 3
- Intensive strikes pounding northeastern high-rise buildings by November 8
- A brief appearance of a Russian flag over the Myrnohrad mine on November 13, subsequently shot down by a Ukrainian drone the following day
Fighting remains intense, with videos from November 19 and 20 showing continued Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian positions and Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian infantry.
Strategic Significance and Military Presence
Natia Seskuria, associate international security fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), emphasised the area's crucial importance, noting that Pokrovsk functions as a central artery for moving troops, equipment, and supplies to Ukrainian units along the surrounding front due to its position at a major road and rail intersection in Donetsk Oblast.
Capturing this hub would provide Russia with a platform to redirect offensive efforts toward Ukraine's principal defensive urban centres, including Kramatosk and Slovyansk, which form part of Ukraine's defensive "fortress belt."
While exact troop numbers remain unclear, reports indicate three key Russian units are actively advancing on the towns from north and south. Several Ukrainian units remain inside the towns, including:
- The 145th Assault regiment
- The 32nd, 35th, 38th and 155th Brigades
Additional Ukrainian units have reportedly been moved into surrounding areas to keep the withdrawal corridor open. Sky News approached Ukrainian brigades still in Myrnohrad for comment, but they declined, citing military regulations.
In a significant deployment, US-made Black Hawk helicopters carrying specialist troops directed by Ukrainian military intelligence entered Pokrovsk in late October in an attempt to bolster the town's defence. As Russian troops advance, however, Myrnohrad is becoming the last Ukrainian stronghold in the immediate area.
Humanitarian Crisis and Strategic Implications
Despite the intense fighting, civilians remain in both towns. A November 12 post by the Donetsk state regional administration estimated 1,200 people still living in Pokrovsk and 900 in Myrnohrad. Evacuation requires military or police assistance, and it remains unclear how many have been evacuated in the days since that estimate.
Barros of ISW highlighted the potential diplomatic consequences of Russia capturing Pokrovsk, suggesting it could increase Moscow's leverage in any future negotiations.
"If the Russians can successfully convince enough international leaders that, okay, the Russians took Pokrovsk, they're going to take the next thing, and they're going take the thing, so now let's negotiate, then that is a strategic victory for the Russians," Barros explained.
The battle for these Donbas towns represents more than just territorial gain—it's a struggle for strategic positioning and potential negotiating advantage as the conflict continues with no clear end in sight.
