The first week of July 2025, a four-year unfortunate war on Ukraine, ends. As part of the spring-year campaign, the Russian side conducts a number of tackle operations.
Commander-in-Chief Russian Gen. Valery Gierasimov, conducts textbookly and in accordance with the rules of war art, we observe the constant strengthening of forces and resources active in offensive actions and the expansion of active sections of the front.
In Part I of the analysis I outlined the situation in general, and outlined the probable strategical plan of the Russian side and described the situation on the confederate end of the operational direction. Part II describes the activities of the “Dniepr” Group in Zaporoż. In Part III, I will focus on 1 of the 2 main and substantially related directions of the Russian offensive, that is, the conflict of Pokrowsk.
The defence forces are commanded by the most talented Ukrainian general of the young generation gene. Mikhail Drapaty, Commander of the ‘Hortyca’ strategical Group of Operations, to which 4 operational and tactical command are subject. On the axis of the Russian attack around Pokrovsk there are units of Operations Command Tactical “Donieck” commanded since June 2025 by the General Viktor Nikluk.
The Russian side separated for the operation the pokrowska “Centre” group commanded by the general Walery Solodczuk, which liberated occupied areas of the Kursk Oblast in August 2024 and took the place of a promoted general Andrei Mordwichev.
The Russian “Centrum” group invades Pokrowsk with 3 military-wide armies. On the left flank to bypass the city from the west, it is approaching the 41th Red Flag defender Army, from Siberia. The garrisons of the units of this army are Novosibirk, the Altaic Country, the Shrewd Region, the Thiumen Region, the Republic of Tuwa.
Centrally the city blocks the 2nd Guards National Military Army, dislocation (Samara), commanded by the General Ramila Ibatulin.
On the right flank with the task of bypassing the city from the east, 51 Guards National Army attacks, formed based on the erstwhile army of the Donetsk People's Republic, reformed before the war in the 1st Donetsk Army Corps.
The forces of the 41th Guarded National Army (41 GAO) inactive in the summertime of 2024 went to Pokrowsk, nevertheless they were first detained by Ukrainians and then winter, a series of successful Ukrainian counterattacks planned by General Drapaty, with respective positions rejected. Created by Ukrainians "The Drone Wall", including the actions of the elite formation of Ukrainian drones "Birds of Madziara", paralyzed Russian logistics and for long months, due to the fact that until late spring, it stopped Russians at Pokrowski.
In order to make more favourable conditions for further raiding the city, Russian command, after completing units of the above-mentioned army group, after regrouping, in conjunction with the ‘East’ Group brigades, has been conducting an attack in a general direction to the west since May 2025. This allowed the Russians to grow the base of the attack to the north, in order to bypass Pokrovsk from the west. Importantly, it unlocked military communication lines by acquiring fresh roads and road junctions, thus importantly improving the logistics of the group.
Currently, 41 GAO continues to carry out the above-mentioned task, attacking in the alleged "interrival" of the rivers Vowcza and Solona, in a general direction westward to the village of Nowomikołajivka.
The "Strike Fist" is simply a unit of general subordination from the Central Military District, a four-pack 90th Vitebsko-Nowgorodska Armored Division. Its shelves were supported by brigades of 41 GAO i.e. 35 Self-Graduated defender firearm Brigade, 74 Self-Graduated defender firearm Brigade. In the retreat, on reconstruction, there is simply a 3rd army brigade, 55 defender Mountain firearm Brigade Mechanized.
However, in order to compensate, or even strengthen, westbound forces of 41 GAO, The stakes have given this direction considerable force. The following units entered the battle: the 114th Mechanized firearm Brigade and 86,87, 88th Mechanized firearm Regiment, formed from drafts in the erstwhile DRL and 428th Mechanized firearm Regiment. Additionally, the 1436 Reserve firearm Regiment of the Mechanized Rifles and the collective firearm brigade exhibited by 201 Russian Army Base in Tajikistan are fighting here. Together it is the equivalent of 2 divisions of mechanized shooters.
It is besides essential to note the Russian commandos operating here from the elite 24 Guards of the Specnaz Brigade.
On the other side, retreating, the Ukrainian battalions from the following brigades defend themselves: 72 Mechanized Brigade, 35 Marine Brigade, 46 Aeromobile Brigade and 24 Assault Battalion “Aidar”. The Ukrainian 55th Artillery Brigade and the 411th Unmanned Flying Ships Regiment “The Hawks” and Drovers from the Flying Skull Battalion supply support.
Faced with the advantage of many Russian troops, Ukrainian units slowly, but constantly depart west, and what is politically important, is already the Djepropetrovsk region. To the north of the 41st army forces, the Russian 2nd Guarded Military Army units entered the attack.
On the left flank forging the Solona River, capturing the villages of Novomikołajivka and Novosiergiejivka attack regiments of the 27th Guarded firearm Division. This division rejected the Ukrainian 59th assault brigade and the 3rd Spartan National defender Brigade. The front stabilized temporarily, fiercely counterattacking the Ukrainian 23rd National defender Brigade, with the support of the drone battalion "The Drapers of the Space". However, the Russians slow but push the Ukrainians from their positions.
Localities Uder fierce Ukrainian weapons 152 Mechanized Brigade. Strategically crucial industrial large village, railway and road node, for six months the Russians have stormed. The 1437 Reserve firearm Regiment, the 506th Mechanized firearm Regiment and the Reconnaissance Battalion of the 27th Guarded firearm Division are presently approaching.
Kotline, a region of mine shafts was taken from the Ukrainians' hands by the 15th Alexandrian firearm Brigade Mechanized Expelling the Ukrainian 32nd Mechanized Brigade and steadily counterattacking the 210st Berlingo Assault Regiment.
South Routing Pokrowska with weapons: "French" 155 Mechanized Brigade, elite 25 Areomobile Brigade, 1 of the battalions on the re-created was re-armed into American combat infantry wagons M2 Bradley ODS and 153 Mechanized Brigade.
They are bound by Russian combat: 1 Slavic Brigade (with 51 Guards of the National Army), 1454 Reserve Infantry Regiment, 71 peculiar Destiny Regiment, 439 Mechanized firearm Regiment, 30 Independent Guarded Guarded Armed Brigade, 137 Mechanized firearm Brigade, and 1195 and 348 1441 and 1232 Reserve firearm Regiments. Russian units are active everywhere, achieving tactical successes and tying up a fight defending Ukrainian brigades.
Key events for the destiny of the conflict of Pokrowsk are taking place, so far, on the right, east flank, where it attacks with Russian momentum 51 Guards National Military Army, which General Walery Solodczuk got from Stawka's reserve, and which entered into the conflict in the breach formed as a consequence of a successful attack to the east, the 8th Guards National Army attacking the strategically crucial city of Konstantinivka.
On the left wing of Russian 51 GAO approaches the legendary assault battalion "Sparta", on the right having as its neighbours the 5th Mechanized firearm Brigade, further north approaching 110 Mechanized firearm Brigade and 9th Mechanized firearm Brigade together with 93th firearm Regiment. The Russians have crossed the Kazjony Torec River and are fighting on the outskirts of Mirolubivka village, Myrne, Razine.
The Ukrainian brigades have retreated behind the river, and these are the 2nd Hałyczyn National defender Brigade, 38th Marine Brigade, 142th Mechanized Brigade and 14th Red Halyna National defender Brigade. In the retreat is located here, in order to execute counterattacks the erstwhile armored, present the alleged "track" 17th Mechanized Brigade.
Further, entering Ukrainian positions even more to the north, flanking Pokrowsk from the east, in the axis on the villages of Nowotorecki and Bajkowa, the Russian 39th Armed firearm Brigade is approaching and 57th Mechanized firearm Regiment from the 68th Army Corps.
General Mikhail Drapaty, commanding the Ukrainian side, directed the Russian forces to halt 68 of the Corps's selection units to halt progress. The 82nd Launch and Assault Brigade and the 425th Storm Regiment “Skała” were located there. 117 dense Mechanized Brigades (equipped with Polish PT-91 hard Tanks) are besides approaching.
Attacking Russians support fire 120 Artillery Brigade and 400 Artillery Regiment. Ukrainian city defenders have artillery squadrons from 43 and 47 Artillery Brigades and thousands of drones from the 414th Unmanned Ship Brigade flying “Madzer birds”,
The Ukrainian 157 Mechanized Brigade is besides approaching the Popow Jaru area, but it is simply a part of the forces trying to halt the Russian 20th firearm Division, which is mechanized from the 8th Guarded Military Army attacking Konstantinivka. About the conflict of Konstantinivke, I will compose in Part IV of this analysis.
Krzysztof Podgórski
