Forbes: outnumbered Ukrainian brigade destroys 206 heavy Russian vehicles in critical Pokrovsk direction

The Russian 20th Motor Rifle Division is attempting to encircle Ukrainian defenders near Illinka, north from Vuhledar, utilizing 10,000 troops to pressure the significantly smaller Ukrainian brigade.

Nov 5, 2024 - 00:00

Forbes: outnumbered Ukrainian brigade destroys 206 heavy Russian vehicles in critical Pokrovsk direction

Ukrainian weapons.

The Russian 20th Motor Rifle Division is conducting a major offensive against Ukrainian positions near Illinka in Donetsk Oblast, despite suffering significant vehicle losses, according to Forbes.

The situation in the Pokrovsk direction of the front in Ukraine is increasingly precarious as Russian forces intensify their offensive operations.

As of early October 2024, Russian troops are reported to be within 5 to 7 km of Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical hub for Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian forces have been engaged in counter-battery fire and are attempting to hold critical positions to prevent further Russian encroachment.

Ukrainian 79th Air Assault Brigade, numbering approximately 2,000 personnel, faces pressure from the larger Russian division estimated at 10,000 troops in what appears to be a strategic push to encircle Karakhove, Donetsk Oblast.

According to Ukrainian drone operator Kriegsforscher, the situation has become “close to critical” for the defending forces, Forbes reports.

However, Ukrainian forces have destroyed numerous Russian vehicles, including modern BMP-3s and older BMP-2s and MT-LBs.

Analyst Andrew Perpetua reports that Russian losses reached 206 vehicles in a single day, compared to 49 Ukrainian vehicles lost.

“The Russians continue to successfully use the ‘bag’ tactics, bypassing our positions on three sides and leaving a narrow ‘throat’ for retreat,” said Ukrainian journalist Stanislav Aseyev.

This strategy, he notes, often creates panic about potential encirclement among defending forces.

The Ukrainian military faces additional challenges with its forces divided between the Donetsk front and a 270-mile salient in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

Kriegsforscher questions this strategic allocation of resources, stating “While we lose so much ground in the Donetsk area, I am asking myself: what I am doing in the Kursk area?”

The Ukrainian defense ministry is working to establish new brigades to reinforce the front line. However, these units are still in training, and equipment shortages remain a significant challenge for newly formed units.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!