Ukrainian Special Forces Deployed To Russian Military-Cracked Pokrovsk

Ukrainian Military/PHOTO via Instagram @uaf_general_staff

JAKARTA - 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.

As 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.

At least 10 soldiers were seen getting off the helicopter in the field in a video seen by Reuters.

At least 200 Russian soldiers have penetrated the city's defenses and made their way in, the Ukrainian military said.

Army Commander Kyiv acknowledged on Thursday that the situation was "difficult," and said supply and defense lines in the region needed to be strengthened.

DeepState, Ukraine's open source mapping project, estimates that at least half of the cities are located in contested territory and are not fully controlled by both sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred directly to Pokrovsk's battle in his evening address to the Ukrainian people.

"We continue to destroy the invaders. The most important thing is to stop Russian attacks as much as possible," he said.