Pokrovsk is holding on despite Bild’s claims: expert explains why the city remains key to Donetsk region’s defense
4 December 2025 16:40
The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct defensive operations in the Pokrovsk area, and the information of the German publication Bild about the alleged full control of over the city and “the end of the fighting” does not correspond to reality.
According to Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesman for the Main Communications Directorate and spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the position of the Ukrainian command remains unchanged.
“The situation in Pokrovsk is very difficult. However, our troops are still holding the northern part of the city approximately along the railway line. The units are actively working to destroy enemy cells,” said Lykhoviy.
Despite the difficult conditions, Ukrainian forces continue to restore and maintain logistics routes in both Pokrovsk and neighboring Myrnohrad.
According to the spokesman, one of the main tasks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces remains to prevent the concentration of enemy assault units and their attempts to bypass the settlements.
Assessment of the combat situation
Pavlo Lakiychuk, military expert and head of security programs at the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”, commented on the situation around Pokrovsk and the information fakes spread by foreign media in a commentary for "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to the expert, the statements of the German newspaper Bild about the alleged fall of Pokrovsk are not true and indicate a lack of understanding of the situation.
“Our command says otherwise – Pokrovsk is holding. And the fact that Bild does not know the situation is evident not only from unverified information, but also from false forecasts,” emphasized Lakiychuk.
He emphasized that the military situation on the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad line does not indicate Russia’s intention to break through to Dnipropetrovs’k region through this direction.
Confusion between Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk
The expert suggests that Bild could have confused different settlements with similar names.
“Maybe Bild is confusing Pokrovske with Pokrovsk? In the south, where Pokrovske is, the situation is related to the defense of Huliaipole and the Pokrovske-Huliaipole communications. The enemy has indeed made some progress there,” noted Lakiychuk.
Pavlo Lakiychuk emphasized that Pokrovsk is not a self-sufficient target for the Russians. The city is important because of its role in the defense system of Donetsk region.
“Pokrovsk provides a defense flank to the north – Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk. If they capture Pokrovsk, they will try to develop an offensive on Dobropillia and destroy our defense structure,” the expert said.
He reminded of Russia’s previous attempts to implement a plan to cover Ukrainian forces from the north and south, which has been going on for a year and a half and has not brought the occupier any results.
Lakiychuk emphasizes that the fighting in the Pokrovsk sector is difficult for both armies.
“The situation is very difficult for both us and the enemy. The Russians are forced to throw away operational reserves that were supposed to be used to develop the offensive in order to simply hold back the advance in the Pokrovske direction. They also have big problems,” he explained.
Is it worth holding Myrnohrad?
The expert emphasizes that further developments depend on the situation in Pokrovsk, as Myrnohrad is at risk.
“If the situation in Pokrovsk deteriorates, Myrnohrad may be surrounded. At the same time, the withdrawal of forces from Myrnohrad can strengthen our flanks, where it is most difficult now,” noted Lakiychuk.
Lakiychuk emphasizes that under certain conditions, Ukrainian troops may gain an advantage:
“If our forces advance on the flanks, the Russian group north of Pokrovsk may find itself surrounded. Then this “pincer” will be broken.”
According to the expert, the situation remains critical, but not without prospects for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
What preceded it
Earlier, Bild, citing a Ukrainian military officer, said that more than a thousand soldiers in Myrnohrad were in a critical situation. According to journalists, this happened after Russian troops allegedly took control of Pokrovsk after 14 months of fierce fighting.
