Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Defend Pokrovsk as Russia Intensifies Assault

Pokrovsk, Donetsk region — Ukraine has deployed consolidated Special Operations units into the eastern city of Pokrovsk as Kyiv faces heavy pressure from a large-scale Russian assault, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Saturday.

Pokrovsk sits on a key supply corridor for Ukrainian forces and has been a target for Moscow for more than a year. Kyiv reported that hundreds of Russian soldiers have already penetrated the logistics hub this week, while additional units are reportedly advancing from the outskirts in a pincer movement, according to battlefield maps published by the Institute for the Study of War.

"A comprehensive operation to destroy and displace enemy forces from Pokrovsk is under way," Syrsky posted on Facebook. "By my order, consolidated groups of Special Operations Forces are operating in the city."

Videos circulating on social media showed helicopters over Pokrovsk and footage, claimed to be from a Russian drone, of people scrambling from a helicopter that had landed in a field. Ukrainian officials said the city is under pressure from an "enemy group thousands strong," but Syrsky denied that Pokrovsk has been fully encircled, stating there is "no blockade" and that authorities are working to maintain logistics and supply lines.

Before the war, Pokrovsk had about 60,000 residents. It is now largely depopulated and heavily damaged by months of fighting, as Moscow pushes forward in grinding, costly advances that Kyiv and its partners say have limited strategic value.

- Missile and drone strikes spike -

The military developments in Pokrovsk came as data showed a surge in Russian long-range strikes during October. An AFP analysis of daily figures published by Ukraine's air force found Russia launched 270 missiles in October — a 46 percent increase on the previous month and the highest monthly total since Kyiv began regularly publishing such statistics in early 2023.

That analysis also reported 5,298 long-range drones were fired at Ukraine in October, a figure slightly lower than September but still near record highs. The strikes have focused heavily on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and forcing rolling blackouts across all regions, including Kyiv.

Russia launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022; Kyiv and its European partners describe the campaign as an unprovoked and illegal war that has caused widespread destruction and a large number of civilian and military casualties. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drone and missile attacks killed at least two people earlier on Saturday.

Sources: Statements from the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, battlefield assessments by the Institute for the Study of War, and an AFP analysis of data published by Ukraine's air force.