Ukrainian Forces Halt Russian Armored Column Near Pokrovsk

The 117th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade has stopped a Russian armored column in the Pokrovsk sector, the brigade reported on its Facebook page.

According to the brigade, Russian forces deployed armored personnel carriers (APCs) equipped with anti-drone screens to advance on Ukrainian positions.

However, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones continuously tracked the movement of the vehicles.

Ukrainian reconnaissance drones constantly monitored the movement of the armored personnel carriers.

Strike FPV drones were then deployed, piercing the APCs’ armor and halting their advance. The enemy’s vehicles were eventually destroyed and burned in the field, the brigade reported.

Following the invasion troops breakthrough of Avdiivka’s defenses in early 2024, they advanced toward the outskirts of Pokrovsk, a key city in the Donetsk region, and started flanking maneuvers in the fall.

The 117th Heavy Mechanized Brigade is among the Ukrainian units currently holding defensive positions in the area.
The brigade’s “heavy” designation indicates an increased armored component, with a larger number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy weaponry.

In 2024, the unit was reinforced with Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks. The tank is relatively new; the first prototypes were manufactured only in 1993.

The brigade also received British AS-90 self-propelled artillery, enhancing its ability to inflict significant losses on Russian forces.

“During January and February, they launched a major offensive campaign, committing significant forces to capture Pokrovsk,” Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic grouping, reported. “That intensity has now dropped sharply. After their attacks were repelled in early March, the number of clashes fell dramatically.”

According to Trehubov, Russian forces have since slightly increased their activity but remain well below their peak operational tempo.

“Their losses have been so severe that restoring combat capability will be difficult, at least in the near term,” he stated. “Still, Pokrovsk remains a key objective for them. If they intend to achieve their stated goals, they will have to continue pushing forward.”