Russian army's supply lines around Pokrovsk were destroyed, enemy command is urgently fleeing battle

Ukrainian counterattacks pushed the Russians out of several key positions around Pokrovsk, forcing them to abandon their attempt to encircle the town. After advancing to Pokrovsk, Russian forces aimed to sever its logistical lines from the west, hoping to force a surrender without costly urban fighting. The plan collapsed when Ukrainian forces halted the advance and launched aggressive counterattacks, using mobile “thunder runs” and drone strikes to disrupt Russian positions. A decisive blow came at Kotlyne, where Ukrainian troops isolated Russian units and forced them to withdraw, aided by relentless artillery and drone harassment. Under General Major Mykhailo Drapatyi, the Ukrainians then targeted Russian supply lines, destroying vehicles and cutting off reinforcements, food, and water. This systematic disruption pushed Russian forces back from the outskirts of Pokrovsk and reduced activity on the western flank, compelling Russia to shift focus southward and abandon its grandiose encirclement plans.