Ukrainian special forces in action: Battle for Pokrovsk intensifies!

Ukrainian special forces in action: Battle for Pokrovsk intensifies!

On November 1, 2025, Ukraine continues its efforts to protect the strategically important city of Pokrovsk in the east of the country from ongoing Russian attacks. The military operation involves the use of special forces deployed behind enemy lines to secure crucial supply lines. This information comes from Ukrainian media based on data from the HUR military intelligence agency. A commando squad, including intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, was dropped by helicopter to stabilize the lifeline between Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, as exxpress.at reports.

The Russian side has confirmed the Ukrainian attack, but claimed that the operation was foiled and that all 11 dispatched soldiers were destroyed. These claims are rejected by HUR sources in Kiev, who emphasize that the operation is still ongoing. A video showing the landing of the commando team was leaked to several media outlets, but does not provide any clear information about the current situation.

Strategic importance of Pokrovsk

Pokrovsk has played a crucial role in the military conflicts in the Donbass region. The city, which had around 60,000 inhabitants before the war, is almost completely destroyed and is under heavy attack by Russian troops. According to reports, Ukrainian soldiers are currently under threat of encirclement in the city and Myrnohrad. Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyj has given instructions to secure supply and evacuation routes as the military situation is described as “difficult and dynamic,” tagesschau.de reports.

While the Ukrainian armed forces are trying to prevent the fall of Pokrovsk, there is confirmed information from Russian sources that the city is already encircled and Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered. However, these statements have not yet been verified and are rejected by the Ukrainian military as propaganda.

Infrastructure and military developments

In a broader context, Ukraine reported yesterday the shelling of a Russian pipeline in the Moscow region, which is important for Russia's military supplies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pointed out that Russian attackers outnumber Ukrainian defenders by eight to one. This operational situation underscores the difficulties faced by Ukrainian troops who have been fighting the Russian invasion for more than three and a half years.

There were also numerous attacks on the gas infrastructure. The state energy company Naftogaz reported at least eight recent attacks, further exacerbating the precarious situation for the civilian population. In addition, 223 drone attacks were carried out on Ukraine during the night, of which 206 were successfully repelled, while the Russian military report states that it shot down 98 Ukrainian drones over its territory.

The ongoing fighting in Pokrovsk and other cities in Ukraine is part of a larger conflict that concerns not only military aspects, but also the cultural identity of the Ukrainian language. This East Slavic language, spoken by around 45 million people and the official language of Ukraine, is a central element of national identity and has been more strongly promoted since the country's independence in 1991. Distancing Russian and strengthening Ukrainian is seen as an important step in the country's cultural and political sovereignty, as described in Wikipedia.