Ukraine opens a second axis as the Pokrovsk counteroffensive expands

Today there is interesting news from the Pokrovsk direction. Here the Ukrainian counteroffensive is expanding, with Ukrainian forces opening a second axis between Dobropilya and Drushkivka to clear the remnants of the Russian troops trying to entrench themselves in the area. The Skala Assault Regiment, operating alongside the 12th Azov Brigade, launched clearing operations around Khruska and Novo-Mikulayevka, establishing a blocking line designed to stop Russian infiltration toward Drushkivka.

The operation relied heavily on infantry because Russian troops had dispersed through interconnected forest belts. Ukrainian commanders divided the assault force across three roads, carefully bypassing mines before moving toward the predetermined Russian positions. Every Ukrainian group received specific objectives, including where to attack and approximately how many Russian soldiers were expected there. Crossing open ground was particularly dangerous because Russian FPV drones were constantly searching for Ukrainian troops in an attempt to help Russians on the ground dig in the forest.

However, due to their own drone reconnaissance, Ukrainian soldiers were informed that everyone ahead of them could be treated as hostile, while a commander monitored their movement through a drone's live feed, warning assault groups whenever threats appeared. After reaching their designated positions, Ukrainian soldiers concentrated inside the forest belts before beginning successive assaults. Close-range fighting followed, with some Ukrainian soldiers wounded, but the advance continued while other troops remained behind on the flanks. This became crucial when some Russian forces attempted to move behind the advancing Ukrainians and cut them off, but the Ukrainian soldiers waiting in ambush intercepted them instead.

The Ukrainians then captured Russian radios, creating an immediate advantage because they could hear Russian movements and learned that enemy soldiers intended to deploy anti-personnel mines ahead of the Ukrainian advance. Instead, the Russian groups were located and eliminated before completing their task. Russian drone operators eventually identified the previous Ukrainian ambush position and attacked it with but the Ukrainians had already relocated and advanced another 100 meters, discovering another Russian position and eliminating it through coordinated action.

After each position was cleared, Ukrainian soldiers consolidated while fresh groups moved through them to continue the attack. Where Russian resistance became stronger, Scala requested support from Azov drone operators, who struck Russian positions before infantry advanced. This created a repeating cycle – locate, strike, assault, consolidate and introduce another group to build on the success so far. Eventually, Scala cleared the new Russian attempt to resurrect the pincer, allowing the Azov brigade to introduce consolidation forces.

The broader context makes this operation particularly important, as Ukrainian forces were already attacking from the Dobropila direction after clearing Russian infiltrators south of Khruska, so Russia subsequently attempted to shift infiltration farther east toward Novo-Mikolaevka. Capturing positions there could have reopened a vector toward Drushkivka and ultimately increased pressure against the wider Kramatorsk defensive area.

Instead, the first Azov Corps, reinforced by Scala, continued systematically searching the forests and eliminating Russian infiltration groups, which effectively creates a second Ukrainian counteroffensive axis alongside the continuing operations around Dobropila. Rather than merely reacting to individual Russian infiltrations, Ukrainian forces are attempting to construct a continuous protective belt south of Drushkivka, denying Russia the ability to transform scattered infiltration groups into a sustainable breakthrough.

Overall, the Ukrainian Pokrovs' counteroffensive is therefore becoming more than simply eliminating the original Russian penetration. Ukraine is expanding sideways, securing the approaches toward Drushkivka and constructing another defensive barrier. If this continues, Russia's attempt to exploit the area toward Drushkivka and threaten Kramatorsk risks being dismantled before it can develop into something significant.

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