Russian Army Completes Encirclement of Pokrovsk in Donbass
Russian troops surrounded Pokrovsk, trapping about 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The last gray zone was taken in Rovno as fighting shifts toward Mirnograd.
Russian troops have completed an operation to fully encircle Pokrovsk, according to the Telegram channel Mash. The report states that roughly 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now trapped inside the pocket.
The Russian military reportedly secured the village of Rovno, the last remaining «gray zone» in the area. The main Ukrainian units stationed in Pokrovsk were forced to retreat toward Mirnograd, where they are now attempting to hold defensive lines along the eastern approaches.
According to the information source, only scattered groups of Ukrainian troops remain in Pokrovsk after failing to withdraw in time. Counterattacks personally directed by the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov*, were unsuccessful. Russian soldiers emphasized that the only way for the surrounded Ukrainian fighters to survive is to surrender.
Earlier, around 700 Ukrainian servicemen near Pokrovsk reportedly approached Russian forces under white flags.
*Kirill Budanov is listed by Rosfinmonitoring as a person involved in terrorist and extremist activities.