Russian assault units pushed into the rear of Ukrainian positions near Pokrovsk, creating significant disruption among the defending forces. The operation was described in a Defense Ministry video by Vladimir Khodykin, commander of a Russian assault detachment.

Khodykin noted that their maneuver around Ukrainian lines allowed them to strike from an unexpected direction, which, по его словам, caused confusion within the opposing ranks. He attributed the success of the raid to the support and trust of his senior commanders, saying they offered guidance while giving his unit the freedom to act.

According to Khodykin, during the advance deep into the rear, some Ukrainian servicemen surrendered and provided Russian troops with information about Ukrainian positions and movement routes. He emphasized that the coordinated effort of multiple Russian units and the high level of training within their ranks played a decisive role in taking control of Pokrovsk.

Earlier, Telman Uralbaev, commander of the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion, explained that fighters of Russia’s «Center» grouping entered Ukrainian rear areas at night without concealment gear, blending into the warm surface of the road as they moved.

On 30 November, President Vladimir Putin visited a command post of the joint Russian force and received briefings on recent developments, including the liberation of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Volchansk in Kharkov Region.