Frontline report: Ukrainian Army’s Brazilians quietly encircle Russian troops near Pokrovsk — and eliminate them one by one

Today, there is interesting news from the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk Oblast.

Here, Brazilian soldiers from the 2nd International Legion have been deployed to finish off the remnants of the Russian breakthrough attempt towards Dobropillia. Gaining extensive combat experience during the intense defense of Donetsk Oblast, these volunteers are now using this to eliminate the remaining enemy pockets of trapped soldiers.

Brazilians strike hard near Pokrovsk as Russian salient's flanks collapse

The Pokrovsk front has become the latest battlefield where Ukraine’s 2nd International Legion, partly redeployed from Zaporizhzhia and Chasiv Yar, is playing a decisive role. Specializing in assault operations, small-unit raids, drone reconnaissance, and counter-sabotage, the Legion was sent to stabilize and clear villages on the flanks of Pokrovsk. With fighting fluid and Russian infiltrations continuing, reports confirm Legion units engaging enemy groups, raising the Ukrainian flag in newly secured areas, and reinforcing frontline advances.

Operating as highly mobile infantry supported by drones, the unit provides Ukrainian commanders with a flexible force capable of reacting quickly to threats, while at the same time launching raids that unsettle Russian forces already suffering from enormous losses. Among the most notable groups within the 2nd Legion are Brazilian volunteers. Brazil is home to a Ukrainian diaspora of roughly 600,000 people, many living in the Parana state. For some, cultural roots provide the motivation to join; for others, anti-communist convictions or personal outrage at the Russian invasion drive them. With many being veterans of Brazil’s military or police forces, bringing specialized skills in small-unit tactics, reconnaissance, and urban combat.

In Pokrovsk, where Russian assaults often rely on infiltration and poorly coordinated pushes, Brazilian fighters are well-suited to counter them. By clearing Russian infiltrators from villages near Pokrovsk and stabilizing threatened flanks, they contribute directly to the broader Ukrainian plan of encircling and eliminating Russian forces that have struggled for months to make progress in this sector. Brazilian actions on the flanks of Pokrovsk exemplify the unit’s mission: clear infiltration groups, secure villages, and provide rapid, precise, small-unit power where it is needed most.

Brazilian skills transfer from jungle to Ukrainian forests

Around Pokrovsk, the 2nd International Legion’s Brazilian contingent has demonstrated how their jungle-honed skills transfer seamlessly into Ukraine’s contested forests and villages. One video shows them advancing quietly through dense woodland on a reconnaissance mission, using their natural ability to move unseen, camouflage effectively, and set ambushes. Such expertise allows them to surprise Russian troops, capture prisoners, or eliminate threats before they can endanger larger Ukrainian formations. Their precision reduces risks for accompanying units and speeds up the clearing of hostile positions, as proved by numerous released videos.

Close-quarters encounters reveal their combat discipline

Equally important is their role in urban fighting when clearing entrenched Russians from basements and buildings with coordination and discipline. Drone surveillance enhances their situational awareness, while cooperation with Ukrainian commanders ensures they strike at exactly the right time. Another recording highlights this synergy, as a patrol unexpectedly encountered a Russian soldier hidden in a shelter. The enemy attempted to raise his weapon, but the Brazilians reacted instantly, neutralizing him before he could fire.

Not mercenaries: RFU shows the human side of Brazil’s contribution

Despite Russian information campaigns to dismiss volunteers as mercenaries, Brazil’s contribution shows otherwise. Many fighters have turned down safer options at home, traveling thousands of kilometers and accepting the risks of Ukraine’s hardest battles. There is, in fact, a constant waitlist of Brazilians applying to join, and up to 400 volunteers await document processing at a single time, seeking places not only in the 2nd International Legion but also in other Ukrainian formations with large Brazilian contingents.

Pokrovsk: where foreign solidarity meets Russian collapse

Overall, the Brazilian volunteers of the 2nd International Legion now helping clear the flanks of Pokrovsk represent a powerful combination of principles, experience, and courage. Their integration into Ukrainian operations is not only disrupting Russian encirclement attempts but also serving as a vivid example of international solidarity. While Russian commanders continue to throw men and equipment into the Pokrovsk meat grinder, Brazilians and other foreign volunteers stand firm, proving that Ukraine’s struggle has become a cause people are willing to fight for. In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.