A drone pilot who left Pokrovsk says Ukrainian defenders on the city's front lines are"essentially surrounded" due to the continued infiltration of Russian forces.

Russian forces in Pokrovsk are using"Brownian movement" tactics - bypassing forward positions and infiltrating the rear in small groups.

This forces rear units to engage in firefights and prevents drone pilots from operating effectively, allowing the enemy to continue their infiltration.

Analysts say that the fall of Pokrovsk would automatically mean the loss of Myrnograd. The biggest threat to this city is the complete cutting off of logistical routes, which are already controlled by enemy fire.

A senior officer interviewed by Hromadske warned of a serious threat of encirclement of 1,000-1,500 soldiers if the forces are not urgently reorganized. Some officials believe it is already too late to correct the situation.

The military command says that additional units' strike and search operations can still save the situation.

Ivan Stoliarchuk, head of the communications department of the 32nd brigade, emphasized that special forces will not save the city if the mechanized brigades do not control the flanks and logistics, which are currently difficult, but not yet decisive.

On Friday, Oliver Carroll, a journalist for The Economist magazine, announced that the Ukrainian military had launched a counteroffensive in the Pokrovsk area.

He posted a video showing helicopters landing in areas that the occupiers claim are controlled by Russian troops.