What is the status of the battle for Pokrovsk?

Pokrovsk, a former Ukrainian logistics hub, is facing imminent fall as Russian forces close in on the city. Ukraine's troops are struggling to counter Russia's advanced fiber-optic drones, which are impeding their movements around Pokrovsk.

How is Russia's use of drones affecting the war in Ukraine?

Russia has significantly increased its use of drones and missiles in the past year, launching over 6,000 drones and 200 missiles at Ukraine last month. This sustained intensity of combined strikes is overwhelming Ukraine's air defenses, leaving high-value targets vulnerable.

Home / War and Conflict / Russia's Relentless Advance: Pokrovsk's Fall Looms as Ukraine Battles Fiber-Optic Drones

Russia's Relentless Advance: Pokrovsk's Fall Looms as Ukraine Battles Fiber-Optic Drones

Q: What can the West do to help Ukraine slow Russia's advance?

The U.S. and Europe could lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to strike within Russia, and impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil to cut into Russia's military financing. However, the outcome of the battle for Pokrovsk remains uncertain, and Ukraine's fate may depend on the continued support and resolve of the West.

19 Aug

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Summary

Russia closing in on Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian logistics hub
Ukraine's outmatched troops face Russian fiber-optic drones
Russia's aerial attacks overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses

Russia's Relentless Advance: Pokrovsk's Fall Looms as Ukraine Battles Fiber-Optic Drones

As of August 19, 2025, the situation in eastern Ukraine is dire. Russia has been steadily advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk, a former logistics hub that has held back Russian forces in southern Donetsk for about a year. The fall of Pokrovsk would be a significant victory for Russia's summer offensive, and Vladimir Putin is eager to use this moment to convince former U.S. President Donald Trump that his momentum is unstoppable.

Ukraine has long relied on technology to make up for its disadvantage in manpower, but Russia is now using a new type of unmanned vehicle that is straining Ukraine's troops: fiber-optic drones. These drones are invulnerable to jamming and spoofing, and Russia is using them to impede Ukrainian movement around Pokrovsk by attacking troops, combat medics, and supply couriers. Ukraine has the same technology, but not as much, with Russian fiber-optic drones outnumbering Ukrainian ones by about 7 to 1 in the Pokrovsk area.

Russia's resource advantage is also changing the dynamic in Ukraine's skies. The country has learned from Iran how to make long-range drones and is now churning out hundreds of them daily. Last month, Russia launched over 6,000 drones and 200 missiles at Ukraine, a significant increase from a year ago. This sustained intensity of combined strikes is overwhelming Ukraine's air defenses, leaving high-value targets vulnerable.

To slow Putin's war machine, the U.S. and Europe could lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to strike within Russia, and impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil to cut into Russia's military financing. However, the outcome of the battle for Pokrovsk remains uncertain, and Ukraine's fate may depend on the continued support and resolve of the West.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.