Russia controls most of Myrnohrad and moves its commanders into the city, Ukrainian marine officer says (MAPS)

Russian forces have taken near-total control of Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, deploying artillery, command posts, and a commandant's office throughout most of the city, according to Ukrainska Pravda's military source. Ukrainian marines now hold only the northern section and aim to keep Russian troops contained inside the city.

Battles concentrated near railway depot

Fighting continues in northern Myrnohrad near the railway depot and in the northern part of neighboring Svitle village, a marine officer fighting in the Myrnohrad direction told Ukrainska Pravda. Russian forces control the center and south of the city.

"In the other (southern and central, — Ed.) part of the city, there's already their artillery, equipment, [drone] pilots — everything you want," the officer said. "Serious accumulation is underway. We expect mechanized assaults from the enemy in the near future."

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“Situation is critical”: Russia is encircling Myrnohrad from all four directions to conduct final suppression of Ukrainian troops

Russian forces are moving their command posts from Novohrodivka into Myrnohrad. The occupiers have also established a commandant's office in the city. The marine officer said Ukrainian troops observed civilians with their belongings being led out under convoy escort.

"We are pulling back, repositioning, the infantry is trying to hold the exits from Myrnohrad," the officer said. "Now our task is to not let them out of the city."

Russian control over the skies has made defending northern Myrnohrad nearly impossible. All entry routes to the city have long been in the gray zone. Ukrainian forces have received no withdrawal order, according to the UP.

Recent advances

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction, according to  the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Geolocated footage published on 28 January shows Ukrainian troops made gains in northwestern Pokrovsk. Russian forces attacked near and within Pokrovsk itself, as well as northwest of the city near several villages on 27 and 28 January.

Elsewhere on the front, Russian forces advanced near Dronivka in Bakhmut district and Kleban-Byk in Kramatorsk district — both in Donetsk Oblast, and in Zaporizhzhia Oblast's Mala Tokmachka, according to the monitoring project Deep State.