Situation near Pokrovsk is ‘stabilizing,’ Ukrainian military says

Ukrainian forces appear to have interrupted an advance by Russian troops in the eastern front, with the General Staff saying on Thursday that the difficult situation near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk was “stabilizing.”

The 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard and neighbouring and subordinate units had inflicted considerable losses on the enemy, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovalev as saying.

Several prisoners were taken in the course of the operation, he said, adding: “The situation is stabilizing.”

According to military analysts, Russian units had advanced more than 10 kilometres north-east of the city of Pokrovsk in the direction of Dobropillia, sparking media reports of a potential breakthrough in the Donetsk region.

In response, the Ukraine deployed reserves to the area, including Azov units, which have extensive front-line experience, as forces in Pokrovsk faced the threat of imminent encirclement.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years.

In February 2024, units of the Azov 3rd Separate Assault Brigade were deployed to the city of Avdiivka to prevent a Russian conquest of the industrial hub, but the city fell a few days later.