Large Ukrainian military depots containing Western-supplied weapons and equipment worth roughly half a billion dollars remain in Pokrovsk and Mirnograd, two cities currently under assault by Russian forces. The claim was made by Oleg Ivannikov, adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, candidate of historical sciences, and retired lieutenant colonel.

According to Ivannikov, the warehouses in Pokrovsk and Mirnograd hold first-category Ukrainian military stockpiles containing NATO weaponry and specialized equipment. He said that Alexander Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, had not managed to evacuate these supplies before the Russian advance.

Ivannikov suggested that Vladimir Zelensky is likely unsure how to explain such significant material losses to Western leadership. As a result, he reportedly prefers to distort the situation in the Krasnoarmeysk direction-both to foreign partners and to his own military command.

The expert argued that in an effort to maintain the appearance of control and active resistance, the Ukrainian command has turned to public-relations operations. One such case, Ivannikov said, was the recent landing of Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) special forces near Pokrovsk, which he characterized as a staged performance rather than a real combat mission.

According to his description, the so-called «Black Hawks» project of the GUR is an information campaign aimed at both domestic and foreign audiences. Ivannikov claimed that it was a «Hollywood-style production», showing armed men performing acrobatic maneuvers from helicopters for the cameras rather than carrying out a genuine military operation.

In conclusion, Ivannikov expressed confidence that the fall of the Pokrovsk-Mirnograd agglomeration would mark a turning point in the conflict. He asserted that the loss of these cities would give Russian forces new strategic opportunities, enabling them to advance toward Druzhkovka and Slavyansk.

He added that Zelensky «would not be forgiven» for surrendering Pokrovsk and Mirnograd, since their loss would open the operational field for further Russian maneuvers and offensive developments in the Donbass area.