Russians storm Pokrovsk on ATVs, like in Apocalypse movies: heavy equipment is immediately destroyed

[Starmix]

According to the report, Ukraine has changed significantly during this time. A post-apocalyptic scene depicts a column of Russian soldiers moving toward Pokrovsk under the cover of thick fog. Some soldiers are riding motorcycles and mopeds, while others stand on the back of an old pickup truck. If the occupiers succeed in capturing Pokrovsk, it will be the largest city captured by the Russians since Bakhmut in May 2023. Like Bakhmut, Pokrovsk was almost completely destroyed, and its strategic importance has now significantly diminished. But, like Bakhmut before it, Pokrovsk has also become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

The report stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is willing to pay almost any price for it. And why the Ukrainian army continues to hold it, despite the increasingly hopeless situation. Russia has been slowly advancing on Pokrovsk for almost two years, following the breakthrough in Avdiivka in early 2024. The publication writes that while the fates of Bakhmut and Pokrovsk may seem very similar, soldiers on the ground, military observers, and analysts say Russia's approach is very different. According to the authors, this change in tactics reflects how the war has evolved over the past two years.

In addition to the report, the offensive on Pokrovsk differs from Bakhmut, where a much more aggressive, direct frontal assault on urban areas was conducted. In Pokrovsk, the operational goal is to encircle Ukrainian forces, not necessarily to seize block one by one. The main reason for these changes was the widespread use of drones. Furthermore, recent technological advances allow them to be used in much greater numbers and over significantly greater distances.

A soldier from the 129th Brigade said it's now impossible to encounter a large enemy group even in urban areas. But they are difficult to track with reconnaissance drones because there is less movement on the screen, the soldier said. Another fighter from the Ukrainian drone group Peaky Blinders also noted that the Russians often move in groups of three. He added that casualties remain high.

 

[gwolf666]

From my perspective, the situation in Pokrovsk reflects how warfare has evolved into a more technological and strategic conflict, leaving behind conventional urban battles. The Russians' ability to use drones in greater numbers and at greater distances gives them a significant advantage, as they can monitor and attack with precision, making it difficult for Ukrainian forces to regroup or move freely. It is interesting to note that, although Russia's main objective now is to encircle Ukrainian troops rather than take the city head-on, this does not guarantee their success. The resistance in Pokrovsk, despite increasingly difficult conditions and the high cost in lives, demonstrates Ukraine's determination and its ability to adapt to these new forms of warfare. I believe this war is clearly showing that, in modern conflicts, technology can make the difference between victory and defeat.