The Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAV) have made slight advances north of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, during a counteroffensive. However, Russian troops continue to penetrate the city and the eastern part of Mirnograd. This is clear from an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on October 31.
Published geolocation footage shows that Ukrainian forces are making slight advances in the eastern part of Rodynske (north of Pokrovsk). Additional video footage shows Ukrainian forces striking Russian positions north of Pokrovsk and in the village of Rig, east of Pokrovsk.
ISW estimates that Russian forces' penetration missions on the outskirts of Pokrovsk have not significantly changed control of the territory and the line of combat contact.
Ukrainian military intelligence previously reported that Russian soldiers were entering Pokrovsk in groups of 5-10 and that Pokrovsk has largely become a disputed "gray zone". In contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry and military corps claim that Russian forces are advancing into the city, as well as into Mirnograd. Earlier, they reported reaching the M-30 Pokrovsk-Pavlograd highway.
ISW emphasizes that the open front line and the spread of drones in the area make it difficult to assess the operational situation in Pokrovsk.
On October 31, a number of media outlets, citing sources, wrote that special forces and GRU aviation of the Ministry of Defense had launched a complex landing operation in Pokrovsk. Reconnaissance aircraft entered areas of the city that Russian generals had already declared “taken“.
A day ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the situation in the Pokrovsk direction remains difficult, but there is no encirclement of units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine there.
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Nov 1, 2025 09:18 562