Russian Troops Advance To Pokrovsk City As Ukraine Deploys Special Forces

JAKARTA - Russia's Ministry of Defense said its troops had advanced to the city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine, by launching a massive overnight attack on locations in Ukraine's military industry.

Moscow said its forces destroyed what it described as a trapped Ukrainian formation near train stations and the Pokrovsk industrial estate, and had entered the city's Prigorodny territory and built defenses there.

The Defense Ministry said last night's attack had targeted Ukraine's military airfield, a base for repairing military equipment and military industrial facilities and gas infrastructure facilities supporting it.

Russian troops have also expelled Kyiv troops from positions around another city, Kupiansk, reports Russia's state news agency citing the Ministry of Defense.

It was previously reported that Ukraine landed special forces to fight in a warring area in the eastern city of Pokrovsk earlier this week. These troops were deployed when Russia said it had surrounded Kyiv troops in the region.

The operation shows how Ukraine struggles to stabilize the situation in this strategic and important city after several Russian troops broke through its perimeter this month.

The seizure of Pokrovsk by Russia, an important center of roads and trains, could allow further progress to the eastern Donetsk region, which Russia wants to fully occupy. Moscow's military has moved slowly towards Pokrovsk for more than a year.

Reported by Reuters on Saturday, November 1, Ukrainian special forces landed in a Black Hawk helicopter a few days ago in an operation that was complicated by Russian drone activity, a source in the 7th Rapid Response Corps said.

The operation was overseen by military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov. It was reported that the troops headed to city areas claimed by Russia and considered Moscow a vital territory for Ukraine's supply lines, another source said.