Ukraine's defence forces withdrew from some positions near the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad several weeks ago, including in the area of the villages of Sukhyi Yar and Lysivka. This has reduced the semi-encirclement "pocket".

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources on the Pokrovsk front

Quote from a source on the Pokrovsk front from Ukrainian Air Assault Forces : "We made a move in the Lysivka and Sukhyi Yar area. The units that were there took up positions further north. This was done to prevent potential encirclement and level the frontline."

Quote from a source in an infantry brigade: "It was simply impossible to get in there any more. The enemy controlled everything with FPV drones and small infantry groups. The road to the positions is 20 km. The Russians were moving in not only from the flanks but also from the rear."

Details: Ukrainska Pravda learned that the defence in this sector of the Pokrovsk front was held by the 25th Air Assault Brigade and the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade. These are among the strongest brigades deployed to Pokrovsk more than a year ago. They held their own positions and also "plugged gaps" between neighbouring units.

One commander told Ukrainska Pravda that the pullback from positions near Pokrovsk was painful. At the time of the withdrawal, a large part of Pokrovsk was already under Russian control, so moving through the city sometimes involved small-arms combat.

The decision to withdraw was partly taken by infantry commanders on the ground who did not want their troops to be encircled.

The Ukrainian group of forces operating near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad and within the cities has been in what it described as a "drone encirclement" by Russian troops since the summer. The Russians have gradually pushed Ukrainian units north and have been successful in doing so.

Most of Pokrovsk is controlled by the Russian forces as of 8 December 2025. The Russians have also penetrated Myrnohrad from several directions. The "corridor" that can be used to reach Myrnohrad is partially controlled by Russian drones.

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