Russian troops break into Belitskoye, determined to close the lid on the Pokrovsk pot
Russian troops broke through to the town of Belitskoye, north of Pokrovsk, completely cutting off the T0515 road and supplying the city's defenders.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•31/07/2025
According to the Russian news site Military Review, there is information that the Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) have intensified their attacks north of Pokrovsk. Currently, the offensive operations have been carried out in the area of the town of Belitskoye, 11 km from Pokrovsk, where the T0515 route supplying the Pokrovsk garrison of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) passes. While the AFU was trying to rebuild its defenses in the area of the town of Rodinskoye (located south of Belitskoye), the RFAF launched an attack from the Boykivka and Novotoretskoye bridgeheads, which they had previously gained control of, breaking through straight to Belitskoye, in order to exert further pressure from the north on Pokrovsk.
If the RFAF takes control of Belitskoye, the logistical support of the Ukrainian defense forces in Pokrovsk will become extremely difficult. The Ukrainian troops stationed in Pokrovsk will no longer have free access to the northern route. At the same time, from this bridgehead, the Russians will be able to completely control the north of Pokrovsk. Currently, RFAF airstrikes are being conducted against the AFU’s key logistics hub west of Pokrovsk, the village of Grishino, located northwest of Pokrovsk. This location currently holds the “key” to all AFU supply operations into Pokrovsk. The roads leading through Grishino and south of the village are now controlled by RFAF firepower, and Pokrovsk is effectively surrounded. RFAF control of this front area, even by firepower alone, could put the situation of the Ukrainian garrison in Pokrovsk in jeopardy. In recent days, RFAF combat operations southwest of Pokrovsk have become increasingly intense. After seizing the village of Zviroe as a bridgehead, RFAF reconnaissance and commando groups (each consisting of three or four people) avoided major clashes and advanced straight into the city center. First, the RFAF reconnaissance and commando forces were spotted near a gas station on Highway E50, and now Ukrainian media reports that they have reached the Pokrovsk railway station. This is not just a suburb, but the city center, so the level of Russian infiltration is alarming. Meanwhile, fierce fighting is taking place between Russia and Ukraine in Myrnohrad, located east of Pokrovsk. If the Russians capture the area, the incursion could quickly turn into a full-scale assault, breaking through the entire city's defenses.
Pokrovsk was not a large city, but the AFU had thrown more than a dozen brigades into the city to defend it, trying to stop the Russian advance. Now, after more than a year of resistance, their forces were weakened. The RFAF seized the opportunity, turning the incursion into a surprise attack, possibly in preparation for a final all-out assault. South of the city, Russia and Ukraine also began a new round. As soon as the Ukrainians showed signs of assembling, the RFAF immediately opened fire, firing artillery and glide bombs at them. The Russians gained the initiative even more, when they captured the village of Novoukrainka, which was an important place in the AFU's defense line on the southern defense line. It is possible that this position is not necessarily used for Russian troops to enter the city, but more likely as a springboard to contain Ukrainian forces on the southern flank, stabilize the situation and hold Ukrainian troops there. In terms of terrain, the area between the southern line and the urban area is open fields. If the Russians ventured to break through in this direction, they would be destroyed by AFU fire and mines. Therefore, this line is more defensive and will not move in the near future. In fact, the Russian offensive in the southern direction is not really fierce, because in fact, this is the key defense direction of the AFU in Pokrovsk. Therefore, the RFAF is currently only conducting small-scale incursions and street fighting with the Ukrainian army. This is mainly a probing move, not preparation for a full-scale attack.
It can be affirmed that the Russian reconnaissance + commando groups achieved significant success in the operation to infiltrate the center of Pokrovsk. Firstly, it confused the nerves of the AFU, making it difficult for them to distinguish between friend and foe, making everyone feel insecure. Second, these deep penetrations help the RFAF commander understand the AFU's troop disposition in the city, facilitating subsequent deployments. Third, in urban environments, reconnaissance + commando forces are more flexible and their lethality is equivalent to heavy firepower. Meanwhile, the situation outside Pokrovsk was far from peaceful. Myrnohrad to the east became the new target, with Russian forces attacking from both the north and the south, beginning to erode this key defensive area. As for the situation in the north and northeast, fierce battles are taking place. After breaking through the Toretsky River defense line, the Russian troops continuously advanced towards the town of Rodinske, and the AFU urgently sent troops to prevent the northern defense line from collapsing. However, after capturing Boikivka and Novotoretske, the Russian troops penetrated deep into Belitskoye, threatening to establish a larger encirclement. (Photo of Russian troops entering the center of the village of Belitskoye).
The RFAF now had several options: could they attack Rodinske decisively and close in on Pokrovsk from the north; or could they advance up the Toretsky River to attack Dobropillia to lure out the main Ukrainian force? Or could they advance south to attack Myrnohrad, thereby directly penetrating the eastern part of Pokrovsk. If Myrnohrad falls, Pokrovsk will be virtually surrounded from all sides; at this point the RFAF is just one step away from a full-scale offensive, so how long can the AFU hold out? However, at this crucial moment, President Zelensky convened another surprise military meeting. In his public speech, he stressed: "Pokrovsk is still fighting." (photo source Military Review, Ukrinform, Kyiv Post, Liveuamap).
Comment (0)