Analysts have studied how Russia has changed its tactics in Pokrovsk. According to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this information is relayed by 'Khvylya'.
According to analysts, Russian troops have been working for almost two years on capturing Pokrovsk. Imperial forces have moved nearly forty kilometers from Avdiivka to the city in the Donetsk region, taking 21 months to do so.
The assault on Pokrovsk began in February 2024, immediately after Russia captured Avdiivka. Initially, the occupiers tried to take the city with direct attacks in the spring of last year but failed. By the fall of 2024, Russian forces changed their strategy and switched to a flanking tactic.
Innovative Tactics of the Russian Army
In the winter of 2025, the enemy conducted several operations toward Pokrovsk, but this sector was not given proper attention until July of the current year. The main difficulty for Russian advancement has been Ukrainian drones, which effectively held back the aggressors for eight months - from the end of 2024 to the middle of 2025.
However, recent successes of the Russian army near Pokrovsk are mainly related to a new tactic of interaction with Ukrainian drones. Reports from the Ukrainian Armed Forces serving at this front indicate that the occupiers launch several dozen assault groups of two to three soldiers each daily. These groups attack Ukrainian positions so intensely that drone operators cannot launch drones into the air.
In a new report, analysts have evaluated how Russia has changed its tactics during the fight for Pokrovsk. Capturing the city has proven to be a challenging task for Russian troops, but they have managed to achieve success due to new approaches and strategies.