Ukraine lands special forces in embattled Pokrovsk, sources say
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A video posted online shows at least 10 servicemen getting off a helicopter in a field.
SCREENSHOT: X/@OLLIECARROLL
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- Ukraine sent special forces to Pokrovsk via Black Hawk helicopter to stabilise the strategically important city amid Russian advances.
- Russian forces breached Pokrovsk's perimeter, with up to 200 troops inside, threatening Ukrainian supply lines and the Donetsk region.
- Kyiv acknowledged the “difficult” situation, aiming to bolster defences, as fighting continues in the contested city.
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KYIV – Ukraine landed special forces to fight in embattled parts of the eastern city of Pokrovsk earlier this week, just as Russia said it had surrounded Kyiv’s forces in the area, two Ukrainian military sources said on Oct 31.
The operation shows how Ukraine is battling to stabilise the situation in the strategically important city after scores of Russian troops breached its perimeter in October.
Russia’s capture of Pokrovsk, an important road and rail hub, could enable further advances into the eastern Donetsk region, which Russia aims to fully occupy. Moscow’s military has been inching forward towards Pokrovsk for more than a year.
The Ukrainian special forces landed in a Black Hawk helicopter a few days ago in the operation, which was complicated by Russian drone activity, a source in the 7th Rapid Response Corps said.
Spy chief oversees operation
The operation was overseen by military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov, and the troops headed to areas of the city claimed by Russia and seen by Moscow as vital for Ukrainian supply lines, the other source said.
At least 10 servicemen could be seen getting off a helicopter in a field in a video seen by Reuters.
The news agency could not independently confirm the location or date when the video was filmed.
Russia’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Ukrainian operation.
At least 200 Russian troops have penetrated the city’s defences and made it inside, the Ukrainian military has said.
Kyiv’s army chief acknowledged on Oct 30 that the situation was “difficult”, saying supply lines and defences in the area needed to be bolstered.
DeepState, a Ukrainian open-source mapping project, estimates that at least half of the city lies in a contested area fully controlled by neither side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred directly to the battle of Pokrovsk in his evening address to Ukrainians.
“We continue to destroy the occupier. The most important thing is to stop Russian attacks wherever possible.” REUTERS
