The Russian breakthrough between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka marks one of the Kremlin’s most significant gains in the summer of 2025, threatening to sever Pokrovsk from the north and pose a real danger to Dobropol. While the Ukrainian command downplays the situation, prominent military experts and bloggers emphasize that the front is in a critical state.
Russian Army Continues Offensive in Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka Sector
The Russian army has been building up an offensive in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka area for several weeks. The most significant achievement of this phase is a wedge-shaped corridor that allows Russian forces to threaten both Pokrovsk and the more southerly city of Dobropol. Though advances toward Kostiantynivka are slowing, the front near Dobropol appears more vulnerable.
Command Confirms Russian Infiltration Attempts
The Operational-Strategic Command “Dnipro” states that Russians are attempting to infiltrate Ukrainian positions with small groups, leveraging their numerical superiority. It also clarifies that simply appearing in a region does not imply control; infiltration alone does not mean territory has been captured.
Pokrovsk in Danger, Military Urges Immediate Counterattack
According to OSUW “Dnipro”, the Pokrovsk front is currently one of the hottest points on the entire line. Battles there are more intense than elsewhere, requiring frequent reserve deployments to eliminate enemy groups that have broken through the first line of defense. The military vows that such units will be destroyed as quickly as possible.
Despite Reassuring Statements, Danger Persists
Despite public de-escalation claims, warnings are rising. Known military personnel and bloggers highlight that the enemy continues to penetrate further, including via diversionary reconnaissance operations. Some assess that current events result from systemic command errors and misjudged defensive capabilities that Russians have skillfully exploited.
Sergeant Buńatow Highlights Systemic Issues
Sergeant from the 24th Storm Battalion “Ajdar” Stanisław Buńatow, known online as “Osman”, stresses that the problem is systemic: “These breakthroughs are a result of a drunken assessment of our own strengths and possibilities, and an underestimate of the enemy’s potential,” he writes on his Telegram channel. “The enemy does not appear suddenly and does not achieve breakthroughs all at once. Prior actions, strikes on weak points, had signs of possible outcomes, but they were not adequately reacted to in time.”
Military Blogger “Officer” Reports Russian Consolidation
The popular military blogger “Officer” notes that not only Russian infantry has entrenched itself at key positions, but also that groups of diversionary‑reconnaissance teams are attempting to infiltrate the rear and destabilize defense.
Analyst Miroshnykow Highlights Current Peak Operations
Analyst Bohdan Miroshnykow observes that Russians have reached the peak of their combat capabilities and are redeploying forces from other front sectors, including the Sumy region, to the Pokrovsk‑Dobropol corridor. He points out that the offensive toward Dobropol was preceded by the loss of several strategically valuable villages—a nearly unnoticed event as society had become accustomed to such reports.
Local Calls for Evacuation from Dobropol
In local social networks, pleas increasingly appear for Dobropol residents to evacuate rather than wait for developments and move to safer parts of the country.
Expert Narozhnyj on Russian Entry to Dobropol Complicates Logistics
Military expert Pawel Narozhnyj confirms that Russian forces have managed to penetrate north of Pokrovsk, exploiting a weak point at the junction of two Ukrainian brigades. “Overall, we are talking about relatively small forces—only a few dozen soldiers who established positions,” he warns. “If they remain there, it signals that they have breached our fortified lines, turning those fortifications into their positions from which we must drive them back. This is an exceptionally difficult task that requires artillery and large forces.” He emphasizes the need for rapid reorganization of supplies and searching for alternative land routes, which would significantly hamper defensive operations. “I hope the reaction will be swift and counterattack decisive. There is still an opportunity to fend them off before they become entrenched; reserves are ready to do so and suppress the attack,” he concludes.
