Ukrainian forces continue to fight inside Pokrovsk, disrupting Russian advances through limited but persistent counterattacks, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). New footage and Ukrainian military sources suggest the battle for the town remains fluid and contested, with Russian forces unable to secure a rapid victory.
Ukraine holds positions despite Russian claims
Geolocated footage published on the same day shows Ukrainian troops patrolling in northwestern Pokrovsk, including along the key E-50 Pokrovsk–Pavlohrad highway. Russian sources had previously claimed control over this area. Additional footage confirms Ukrainian presence in the northern parts of the town, according to the think tank.
Map: ISW.
A Ukrainian assault regiment operating in the area reported that its forces had cleared central Pokrovsk of Russian troops. However, not all accounts align. Some Ukrainian military sources and media figures contradict this claim. Ukrainian Volunteer Army spokesperson Serhii Bratchuk and a Ukrainian journalist stated on 23 and 24 November that several streets and areas near the Donetska railway and E-50 highway were cleared, while Ukrainian forces continued to hold neighborhoods within the town.
Another Ukrainian military source said only “specific areas” had been cleared, suggesting the tactical situation improved, but without a broader operational shift. Meanwhile, other military sources refuted reports that central Pokrovsk had been fully cleared.
Despite these contradictions, ISW noted:
"All of the Ukrainian reporting continues to indicate that Ukrainian forces maintain positions and some degree of ability to operate within Pokrovsk despite weeks of intensified Russian efforts to seize the town."
Ukrainian drones cut Russian logistics in Pokrovsk
The think tank notes that Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian ground lines of communication, combined with the "disjointed nature of Russia’s infiltration tactics" inside Pokrovsk, have likely disrupted the logistical flow needed for Russian forces to mass troops in the town. On 24 November, a Ukrainian military source said these interdiction efforts had cut supply access to 90% of Russian assault groups operating there, slowing the pace of Russia’s advance.
The same source reported that more than 500 Russian soldiers remain inside Pokrovsk but described them as poorly coordinated. Some reportedly engaged in friendly fire incidents due to disorganization. Still, Russian troops retain extensive fire control in the area and are also using drones to disrupt Ukrainian ground lines of communication.
ISW continues to assess that "seasonal foggy and rainy weather conditions are hindering Ukrainian drone operations in eastern Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to conduct ground operations into and within Pokrovsk with less threats from Ukrainian drone reconnaissance and strikes."
