Ukraine Deploys Elite Forces to Defend Strategic Hub of Pokrovsk

 

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian service members of the 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade practice firing an anti-tank guided missile weapon system MILAN as they attend a military drill near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 13, 2024.

Ukraine has launched a daring operation to reinforce its defenses in the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk, deploying special forces by helicopter earlier this week, according to Ukrainian military sources.

The move comes as Russian forces intensify their push into Donetsk, with Moscow claiming to have surrounded Ukrainian troops in the area. Pokrovsk, a vital road and rail hub, has become a focal point of the conflict, as its capture could open the way for deeper Russian advances into the Donbas region.

A video circulating online appears to show at least 10 Ukrainian servicemen disembarking from a Black Hawk helicopter in an open field near the contested city. The operation was reportedly overseen by Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, and carried out under difficult conditions due to Russian drone surveillance and artillery fire.

Military analysts note that the deployment underscores Kyiv’s determination to stabilize the front lines and prevent Pokrovsk from falling into Russian hands. The city has been under mounting pressure after weeks of heavy fighting, with Russian troops breaching its perimeter earlier this month.

While Ukraine has not officially confirmed the details of the operation, the landing of special forces highlights the high-stakes battle for control of Donetsk. Russia, for its part, has claimed that its forces destroyed the Ukrainian unit sent into Pokrovsk, though these assertions remain unverified.

The situation in Pokrovsk remains fluid, with both sides framing the battle as pivotal to the wider war effort. For Ukraine, holding the city is essential to maintaining supply lines and preventing further Russian encirclement. For Russia, seizing it would mark a significant step toward consolidating control over the Donbas.