Russia is quickly moving closer to the important Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. Reports suggest that over 110,000 Russian troops have gathered near the area, raising concerns of a major push.

Pokrovsk Becomes the Focus of the Front Line

On Friday, June 27, Ukraine’s top military leader Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Pokrovsk is currently the most intense battle zone along the 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) front line. Russian forces have tried to seize this city for almost a year, but Ukrainian troops have managed to hold them off so far.

Why Pokrovsk Matters

Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to capture the entire eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In that mission, Pokrovsk plays a critical role. Although it is not a major city, its location gives it great strategic importance.

The city sits on a key supply route and railway line that connects major military centers like Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. These cities make up the core of Ukraine’s defensive positions in the part of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control.

Therefore, if Pokrovsk falls, Ukraine could lose control over other crucial areas in the region.

City Emptied by War

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, about 60,000 people lived in Pokrovsk. However, after nearly three years of fighting, most have fled. Earlier this year, the city suffered another major blow when Ukraine’s last operational coking coal mine, located in Pokrovsk, shut down. Many workers who had stayed behind also left afterward.

Ukraine’s Defence Disrupts Russian Plans

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based research group, recently noted that Ukraine’s defensive strategies forced Russia to rethink its initial attack plans. Originally, Russia tried to launch a frontal assault, but Ukrainian resistance made that approach impossible.

Late last year, ISW confirmed that Ukrainian forces had made Russia abandon its direct takeover plan. This, according to analysts, shows the strength and importance of Kyiv’s defensive lines around Pokrovsk.

Russia Changes Its Tactics

Now, Russian troops are trying a new strategy. Instead of attacking directly, they are working to surround Pokrovsk from the south and northeast.

In its latest report on June 27, the ISW said that Russian forces are using small, mobile units for this mission. These groups often include just one or two soldiers and use motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and buggies to move quickly and strike.

This change in tactics shows that Russia is adapting after facing strong Ukrainian resistance on the battlefield.