Pokrovsk, A Hotspot for Ukraine’s Defense. What’s Happening on the Country's Most Challenging Frontline?

For several months, the Pokrovsk direction has been highlighted as the hottest and most intense area in the daily updates from the Ukrainian General Staff. Following the capture of Avdiivka, which resulted in the loss of several tens of thousands of soldiers, the Russians are attempting to advance further towards Pokrovsk.

This direction sees the highest number of attacks and combat engagements daily. For instance, on August 19, the enemy attempted around 150 attacks, with nearly half of them—63 attacks—taking place near Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces managed to repel these assaults.

Pokrovsk is a city in the Donetsk region of Ukraine that currently serves as one of the logistical centers in the area. Despite the ongoing war, the city and its surrounding areas, with a population of over 50,000, continue to function. However, the Russians are making significant efforts to capture the city and complicate the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this sector.

At the time of writing, Russian forces are approximately 20 kilometers from the city. The distance to Mirnograd, a satellite city of Pokrovsk, is slightly less. Both cities are within the range of rocket artillery and are also being targeted by guided bombs.

The administration of Pokrovsk and neighboring towns and villages is urging residents to evacuate while it can still be organized relatively calmly. "As of today, everything in Pokrovsk is still functioning—water, electricity, gas, and public transport. Shops, markets, banks, and the court are all operational. But we understand that within a week, services may gradually start shutting down," said Serhiy Dobryak, head of the Pokrovsk City Military Administration, during a broadcast on Radio Svoboda.

He urged residents to organize their departure from the city within the next two weeks, noting that 500-600 people are already leaving daily. The Pokrovsk Regional Military Administration is advising civilians not to delay their departure, as the situation could worsen with the Russian advance and increased shelling.

Starting August 20, the city has begun the forced evacuation of children and families with children, overseen by the police. This decision is driven by the current ability to safely organize the evacuation for both the children and their families, as well as the city services involved in the process.

Despite the operation in the Kursk region, where Ukraine controls over 1,250 square kilometers and 90 settlements, the General Staff is closely monitoring the situation in the Pokrovsk direction. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the situation near Pokrovsk and Toretsk—another city under Russian attack—is a mandatory topic at every meeting of the military command and in reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky. "First and foremost, the frontline situation and our measures to control it. Heavy fighting continues in the Pokrovsk direction, defending Toretsk. I am grateful for every success in destroying the occupiers. We are working on securing weapons and the necessary strong decisions from our partners to support our actions on the frontline," Zelensky said after the latest meeting.

As of mid-August, the Russians are actively advancing on three fronts: Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Kurakhove in the Donetsk region. These are the most challenging sectors of the front to defend.