The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has once again intensified. On September 2nd, the Ukrainian military stated that its troops are still holding out in the eastern city of Pokrovsk and are launching a"full-scale operation" to counter the invading forces. Russia, on the other hand, claims that after more than a year of bloody fighting, it has completed the encirclement of Pokrovsk using a"pincer offensive."
This city, known as the"Gateway to Donetsk" and with a pre-war population of about 70,000, is now almost completely razed to the ground. It is considered the most important potential victory for the Russian army since the capture of Avdiivka, and its fall would pave the way for the Russian advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Reuters reported that Ukraine's top military commander said on the 2nd that Ukrainian troops are still holding their lines in Pokrovsk, a city in the east where fierce fighting is taking place. Russia, however, claims that after more than a year of bloody fighting, Russian forces are finally completing the encirclement of Pokrovsk with a"pincer offensive."
Since mid-2024, the Russian army has been attempting to capture Red Army City, known as the"Gateway to Donetsk," in order to seize the entire Donetsk region of Ukraine, which it claims to have"incorporated." This city, with a pre-war population of approximately 70,000, is now almost completely razed to the ground, and its inhabitants have all fled. If Red Army City is successfully captured, it will be Russia's most significant territorial gain in Ukraine since the capture of Avdiivka in early 2024. That battle was one of the bloodiest engagements of the entire war.
Since then, although the Russian army has slowly advanced along a 1,000-kilometer front, the fighting remains fierce, with estimated casualties on both sides reaching tens of thousands. Kyiv states that the war of attrition has almost reached a stalemate, with limited territorial losses for Ukraine. Moscow, however, emphasizes that it is still making"key progress."
🔥Work of the 🇺🇦1st Assault Battalion Black Swan, 225th Assault Regiment in the Pokrovsk direction.
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) November 2, 2025
Throughout October, 217 🇷🇺🐷 get eliminated or wounded.
Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on Facebook:"We are holding Red Army City. We are launching a full-scale operation to destroy and drive out the enemy forces invading Red Army City."
Russian officials claim that once they control the city of Kolmogorov and Kostiantynivka to the northeast, the Russian army can advance northward, heading straight for the two major cities of Donetsk, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which are currently still under Ukrainian control.
In recent days, Russia has claimed to be"continuously expanding its advance" around Khalkha City. However, according to the latest frontline map compiled by the Ukrainian open-source mapping website"Deepstate" from satellite and battlefield imagery, the Russian army currently has complete control over a small area in the south of Khalkha City, while the majority of the area remains in the"grey zone," which neither side has been able to fully control.
Deepstate later updated that Russian forces are still infiltrating the southern part of the city, with a considerable number of infantry remaining in the city. However, Ukrainian forces are also identifying and eliminating enemy groups, expanding the gray zone, making it impossible for either side to fully control the ground.
Russia's strategic goal is to seize the entire Donbas region (including the Luhansk and Donetsk regions). Ukraine currently controls about 10% of the Donbas region, covering an area of about 5,000 square kilometers, mainly concentrated in western Donetsk.
Updated map from @Deepstate_UA showing further Russian advances in Pokrovsk and Uspenivka. https://t.co/F0vB90KDEG
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) October 31, 2025
Ukrainian's Airdropping troops in Pokrovsk via helicopter, This is big.
— Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) October 31, 2025
Russians are facing some challenging times on ever aspect.
NEVER, EVER, Underestimate the Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/nc47hiww57
My documentary on the battle for Pokrovsk is finished. Filmed over the span of a year from outside Avdiivka and followed the crawl of the frontline that led to the streets of Pokrovsk city. Embeds include the 68th, 59th, and Spartan.
— Dylan Burns 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@DylanBurns1776) October 28, 2025
Releasing Nov. 1st, this Saturday
