Russian forces are attempting to push beyond the outskirts of Pokrovsk and assault nearby settlements. Ukrainian defenders say the situation remains difficult but under control, according to Ukrainian military news outlet ArmyInform.
Pokrovsk has been a key battleground in eastern Ukraine during the war. The city itself was likely captured by Russian forces in January after a long and resource-intensive battle, but gains beyond Pokrovsk have since been limited.
Three armies, one front: the push toward Hryshyne
According to ArmyInform, Russian troops are trying to break out past the Pokrovsk area and advance toward the village of Hryshyne, while Ukrainian forces continue to hold defensive lines and target enemy logistics.
A representative of the headquarters of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia said during a broadcast on Army TV on 16 March that Russian troops are maintaining intense pressure in the sector.
“The situation is difficult but under control. The enemy is not abandoning attempts to break beyond Pokrovsk and advance further, trying to assault Hryshyne. We are holding the defense,” he said.
The officer added that Ukrainian troops in this sector are facing forces from three separate Russian armies, but have so far managed to keep their positions.
Targeting Russian logistics behind the line
Despite the pressure, Ukrainian forces say they continue to disrupt Russian operations by targeting supply routes, equipment concentrations, and troop staging areas.
Weather changes have had little effect on the battlefield situation, the officer said, noting that Russian troops often try to take advantage of poor conditions but without major shifts in the tempo of operations.
Three drone battalions watching every move
Ukrainian defenders are relying heavily on drone warfare to maintain battlefield awareness and strike enemy targets. According to the regiment’s representative, three battalions of unmanned systems are currently operating in the area, allowing Ukrainian troops to monitor Russian logistics routes and detect approaching assault groups.
“We detect and destroy everything that attempts to move toward us,” the officer said, adding that Ukrainian units maintain control over Russian supply routes and areas where troops gather before attacks.
