Intense Combat Rages Near Pokrovsk as Russian Forces Advance Amid Ukrainian Manpower Shortages

Intense Fighting Grips Pokrovsk Frontline

Intense combat is ongoing on the eastern front in Ukraine, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces are reportedly advancing, with Ukrainian officials and military analysts describing the situation as 'critical' and 'deteriorating' for the defending side. The fighting highlights Ukraine's persistent challenges with military manpower.

Strategic Importance of Pokrovsk

Pokrovsk is a crucial logistical hub, featuring major rail lines and several highways. Its capture by Russian forces would enable further advances deeper into the Donetsk Oblast, a region Moscow has sought to fully occupy since 2014. The city has been a focal point of fighting for over a year, with Russian forces inching closer.

Russian Advance and Tactical Approaches

Recent reports indicate that Russian forces have infiltrated the city limits of Pokrovsk and are engaged in street battles. An anonymous Ukrainian officer stated on November 1, 2025, that Russian troops control approximately 60 percent of Pokrovsk and are advancing towards the neighboring towns of Myrnohrad and Rodynske, threatening to encircle Ukrainian units. The Ukrainian DeepState open-source tracking group also confirmed general Russian control of Pokrovsk's southern districts and partial Ukrainian control of central and northern regions. Russian forces are employing infiltration tactics, sending small groups of infantry to seep between Ukrainian positions, and are increasingly using columns of armored vehicles for offensive operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on October 31 that about 170,000 Russian troops are deployed in the Pokrovsk sector.

Ukraine's Manpower Crisis Deepens

A significant factor in the deteriorating situation is Ukraine's growing manpower shortage. President Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian troops on the Pokrovsk front are currently outnumbered eight to one by Russian forces. This numerical disadvantage has been a persistent issue since 2023, with a slowdown in volunteers and consistently high casualty rates. Mobilization efforts continue, but many mobilized individuals are reportedly not fit for combat, and the military faces challenges with desertion and absence without leave (AWOL) cases. The average age of a Ukrainian soldier is now around 40 years old. The situation is compounded by Russian forces breaking a major logistics route towards Myrnohrad, further pressuring Ukrainian supply lines.

Ongoing Efforts and Critical Outlook

Despite the challenging circumstances, Ukrainian forces are actively defending their positions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 157 combat clashes across the front line on November 1, with the fiercest battles occurring in the Pokrovsk sector, where Ukrainian defenders stopped 48 assaults. Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reportedly launched a special operation involving airborne assault units in Pokrovsk to stabilize the situation and reopen key logistics lines. However, analysts warn that if Pokrovsk falls, it could imperil a swath of Ukraine's frontline defenses and open the road to the Dnipropetrovsk region.