Battle for Pokrovsk: Russian progress and mounting accusations of war crimes

What you need to know: Russian troops are intensifying their advance on the strategic Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, aiming to capture it before winter conditions strengthen defenses. With fighting near the coal town of Selydove, just eight miles from Pokrovsk, British military intelligence reports that the Russian advance is imminent.

-The offensive has raised significant war crimes concerns as Ukrainian officials investigate the recent execution of four prisoners of war by Russian forces near Selydove.

-Alleged violations include systematic abuse and disregard of the laws of armed conflict, with the Ukrainian Attorney General leading the investigation. The encirclement of Pokrovsk remains a crucial stage in the Donbas conflict.

Pokrovsk under siege: Russian forces advance on key Ukrainian city

Russian forces are making progress toward a strategic Ukrainian city. The Ukrainian army resists fiercely, but also gives up ground. Meanwhile, more and more examples of Russian troops executing prisoners of war are emerging.

The battle for Pokrovsk

“The Russian Land Forces (RLF) have almost certainly entered the coal mining town of Selydove, approximately eight miles southeast of the main logistics hub of Pokrovsk,” British Military Intelligence assessed in a recent assessment of the conflict.

Pokrovsk remains the ultimate target the Russian army. Pokrovsk is an important logistics hub for the Donbas and is important for the Ukrainian defense line in that part of the contact line.

The Russian Armed Forces trying to approach Pokrovsk from multiple directions and threaten the city with encirclement.

“The city remains contentious and fighting is likely to continue in the city center. Selydove is the last major urban area shielding the southern flank of Pokrovsk, as well as the E50 highway, which connects Selydove to Pokrovsk,” British military intelligence added.

“Since early October 2024, the pace of the RLF’s advance towards Pokrovsk had slowed significantly, with the RLF remaining within approximately seven kilometers of the city,” British military intelligence said.

The Russian High Command focuses resources and men against Pokrovsk in an attempt to capture the city before the onset of winter ‘freezes’ the battlefield and encourages defensive action.

“The RLF has recently focused resources on the southern part of the axis, targeting Selydove and partially encircling the city. Russia The intention is likely to use the E50 highway as a secondary route of advance to Pokrovsk if Selydove is captured,” British military intelligence concluded.

War crimes

If the Russian way of waging war in Ukraine has learned one thing: where there is heavy fighting, there are often also war crimes. And the fighting around Selydove and Pokrovsk is no exception.

“Ukrainian authorities are investigating another execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces in the direction of Pokrovsk against the backdrop of increasingly frequent executions of Russian forces in the theater,” the Institute for the Study of War said. assessed in his latest operational update on the conflict.

Although both parties have probably committed war crimes in the heat of battle, the Russian armed forces have systematically avoided the rules of war on a large scale. The lack of discipline in the Russian armed forces and the poor quality of troops only makes it easier to commit war crimes.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into the alleged executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by retreating Russian forces near Selydove. On October 7 Ukrainian troops recaptured positions near the city and found four Ukrainian troops executed. The Russian forces first interrogated the four Ukrainian troops before executing them, which is a clear violation of the laws of armed conflict.

The Russian army has condoned and even encouraged war crimes against Ukrainian troops and civilians.

About the author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist, specializing in special operations and a Greek Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work can be seen in Business insider, ZandboxxAnd SOFREP.

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