Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (ГУР) has initiated a complex airborne special operation in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. This operation reportedly involves specialized units and aviation.
Assault troops of Ukrainian military intelligence have entered areas of the city that Russian command previously declared controlled. This information comes from Gazeta.ua, citing sources within the Ukrainian Defense Forces who confirmed the details to Suspilne.media.
Strategic Importance and Leadership
These targeted areas in Pokrovsk are considered strategically important for Ukrainian logistics. Several helicopters are reportedly involved in the ongoing operation.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the GUR, is reported to be personally directing the operation on-site. This detail has also been corroborated by Gazeta.ua.
Russian Infiltration Attempts and Escalation
The current GUR operation follows sustained efforts by Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups (DRG) to infiltrate Pokrovsk. These attempts have been noted since mid-2025.
On July 18, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported an attempt by a DRG to enter the city, which was subsequently neutralized. By August, the Russian army had concentrated approximately 110,000 personnel on the approaches to Pokrovsk.
In autumn 2025, Russian DRG activities intensified further. There were renewed attempts to breach Pokrovsk’s urban development. In October, one such group reportedly shot two men near the railway station, wounding another woman in the process. This highlights the escalating Caribbean tensions due to similar proxy conflicts.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU) stated on October 26 that around 200 Russian military personnel had entered Pokrovsk, leading to small-arms combat within the city.
Current Standoff and Ukrainian Response
As of October 27, Ukrainian forces maintain that Russian forces do not control any micro-districts of Pokrovsk. Russian troops are reportedly attempting to advance towards the northern part of the city, a claim also reported by Gazeta.ua.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented that the ZSU is working to eliminate Russian troops in the city cautiously. The objective is to preserve personnel, while denying reports of encirclements of Ukrainian forces, demonstrating how forces refine drone attack tactics amidst ongoing conflicts. The situation in Pokrovsk remains dynamic with ongoing military engagements.