Pokrovsk offensive order of battle explained

On 18 July 2024, Russian forces began an offensive with the goal of capturing the strategically important city of Pokrovsk.^{[1] [2] [3]} Pokrovsk serves as an important supply route and as a transportation hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} Ukrainian soldiers on this part of the front are mostly made of poorly trained conscripts who reportedly had little to no training.^{[8] [9] [10]} Many Ukrainian conscripts had been reported to have deserted over the course of the offensive.^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]} The increased level of desertion has resulted in Ukrainian commanders increasing the use of blocking detachments.^[21] One Ukrainian commander told CNN that Ukrainian soldiers around Pokrovsk have been given orders to shoot unidentified persons on sight.^[22]

Russian forces

• Russian Ground Forces
  • Central Military District - Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev^[23]
    • 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army - Major General Vyacheslav Gurov^[24]
      • 15th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade - Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Sergeevich Marushkin^[25]
        • 1437th Motorized Rifle Regiment^[26]
        • "Black Hussars" detachment^[27]
      • 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division - Colonel Dmitri Zavyalov
      • ^{[28] [29]}
      • 385th Guards Artillery Brigade^[30]
    • 41st Guards Combined Arms Army - Lieutenant General Sergey Ryzhkov
      • 35th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade - Oleg Vladimirovich Kurygin^[31]
        • 3rd "Atlant" Motor Rifle Battalion^[31]
        • "Veles" Battalion^[32]
      • 55th Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade - Colonel Denis Barilo^{[29] [33]}
      • 74th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade^[30]
      • 90th Guards Tank Division - Colonel Ramil Rakhmatulovich Ibatullin^[34]
        • ^[35]
        • 228th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment^[36]
        • 239th Guards Tank Regiment
        • 438th Motor Rifle Regiment^[37]
        • 30th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion^[38]
      • 75th Motor Rifle Brigade^[39]
      • 119th Missile Brigade^[30]
      • 120th Artillery Brigade^[30]
  • Southern Military District - Colonel General Gennady Anashkin
    • 8th Guards Combined Arms Army^[40]
      • 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division^[41]
      • 255th Motorized Rifle Brigade^[41]
      • 238th Artillery Brigade^[42]
      • 150th Guards Motor Rifle Division^[43]
        • ^[44]
        • ^[44]
    • 51st Guards Combined Arms Army - Lieutenant General Sergei Milchakov
      • 1st Slavyansk Brigade
      • Vostok Brigade - Alexander Khodakovsky^[45]
      • Pyatnashka Brigade -
      • Oplot Brigade^[46]
      • 9th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade^[45]
      • 110th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade^{[37] [30]}
      • 132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade^[30]
      • Somalia Battalion - Timur Kurilkin^[47]
      • 87th Rifle Regiment^[48]
  • Unknown military district
    • "Fregat" battalion^[49]
    • "Maxim Krivonos" volunteer detachment^{[50] [27]}
    • "Mora" detachment^[27]
    • 506th Motor Rifle Regiment^[27]
    • 71st Separate Spetsnaz Brigade^[51]
    • "Borz" assault battalion^[51]
    • "Storm" assault battalion^[51]
• GRU
  • Spetsnaz GRU
    • 3rd Guards Spetsnaz Brigade - Guards Col. Albert Ibragimovich Omarov^[52]
    • 24th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade^[53]
      • "Vega" Spetsnaz Detachment^[54]
    • Russian Air Force^[55]
• Russian Navy
  • Russian Naval Infantry - Lt. Gen. Viktor Astapov
    • 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade - Colonel Aleksey Borisovich Berngard

BARS

• BARS-14 "Sarmat"^[38]

Ukrainian forces

• Ukrainian Ground Forces
  • 43rd Artillery Brigade - Oleh Shevchuk^{[56] [57]}
  • 9th Army Corps - Maj. Gen. Eduard Moskalyov
    • 47th Mechanised Brigade - Col. Yan Yatsishen^[58]
  • 10th Army Corps
    • 33rd Mechanized Brigade - Col. Ivan Voitenko^[59]
    • 100th Mechanized Brigade - Col. Ruslan Tkachuk^[60]
    • 115th Mechanized Brigade - Ihor Ivanov
    • Skala Battalion - Major Yuriy Harkaviy ″Skala″^[61]
  • Operational Command North - Brigadier General Dmytro Krasylnykov
    • 31st Mechanized Brigade^{[62] [63]}
    • 110th Mechanized Brigade - Mykola Chumak
      • Unknown blocking detachment^{[64] [65] [66]}
  • Operational Command South - Brigadier General Hennadii Shapovalov
    • 57th Motorized Brigade - Denys Yaroslavsky^[60]
      • 420th Rifle Battalion - Colonel Serhiy Lipsky^[67]
    • 59th Motorized Brigade - Vadym Sukharevsky^{[68] [69]}
      • 11th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion - ^{[70] [71]}
  • Operational Command East - Oleh Mikats
    • 53rd Mechanized Brigade^[72]
    • 54th Mechanized Brigade - Oleksiy Maistrenko^[60]
    • 55th Artillery Brigade - Roman Kachur^{[73] [74]}
    • 93rd Mechanized Brigade - Col. Pavlo Palisa^{[75] [76]}
    • 151st Mechanized Brigade - V. Samoilenko
  • Operational Command West - Brigadier General Volodymyr Shvediuk
    • 14th Mechanized Brigade - Lieutenant Colonel Vasyl Lapchuk^[77]
    • 68th Jaeger Brigade - Oleksiy Shum^[78]
• Ukrainian Marine Corps
  • 35th Marine Brigade - Yuriy Andriyenko^[79]
• Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
  • 7th Air Assault Corps - Col. Valery Kurach
    • 25th Airborne Brigade - Col. Yevhen Kurash^{[80] [81]}
    • 46th Airmobile Brigade - Col. Valeriy Skred^{[82] [83]}
    • 79th Air Assault Brigade - Col. ^[84]
• Territorial Defense Forces
  • Operational Command North
    • 117th Territorial Defense Brigade^[85]
  • Operational Command South
    • 120th Territorial Defense Brigade - Colonel Yurii Paradiuk^[86]
      • 210th Territorial Defense Battalion^[64]

National Police of Ukraine^[87]
National Guard of Ukraine

• Offensive Guard
  • Azov Brigade - Denys Prokopenko^[88]
  • 14th Chervona Kalyna Brigade^[89]
  • Kara-Dag Brigade - Colonel Ivan Bondarenko^[90]

Shkval Battalion - "Oleksandr"^{[91] [92]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: All Eyes on Kursk, But Donetsk in Trouble – Special Forces Source Says. Kateryna. Zakharchenko. August 13, 2024. Kyiv Post. August 15, 2024. August 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818045800/https://www.kyivpost.com/post/37345. live.
2. News: Ukraine war briefing: 'Hottest situation' around Pokrovsk, says Ukrainian military. Warren. Murray. July 15, 2024. The Guardian. August 15, 2024. August 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822100447/https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/15/ukraine-war-briefing-hottest-situation-around-pokrovsk-says-ukrainian-military. live.
3. Web site: Russia says its forces advance towards key city in eastern Ukraine. S. W. I.. swissinfo.ch. August 15, 2024. August 15, 2024. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815173201/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/russia-says-its-forces-advance-towards-key-city-in-eastern-ukraine/86893111. live.
4. Web site: Russian forces press forward to strategic Ukrainian city that serves as important supply route. July 29, 2024. NBC News. August 15, 2024. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815021442/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-battles-pokrovsk-supply-route-zelenskyy-putin-rcna164018. live.
5. Web site: Ukraine frontline at risk of 'collapse' as Russian troops advance towards key town. Sky News.
6. Web site: Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk, Ukraine faces critical defense challenge. New Voice.
7. Web site: Battle for Pokrovsk: Why is Russia so rapt with this Ukrainian town?. September 19, 2024. euronews.
8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/02/ukraine-training-soldiers-mobilization-war/
9. Web site: Ukraine’s new infantry recruits ‘freeze’ in face of Russian onslaught. Christopher. Miller. September 27, 2024.
10. Web site: Ukrainian Recruits Surviving Only a Few Days, Poorly Trained and Prone to Panic - British Sources. Military Watch Magazine Editorial. Staff. September 28, 2024. Military Watch Magazine.
11. Web site: Poorly trained recruits contribute to loss of Ukrainian territory on eastern front, commanders say. August 22, 2024. AP News.
12. Web site: Outgunned and outnumbered, Ukraine's military is struggling with low morale and desertion. Ivana Kottasová, Kostya. Gak. September 8, 2024. CNN.
13. Web site: Why is Ukraine's army facing a desertion crisis? .
14. Web site: Alarm in Ukraine over increasing number of army deserters. Cristian. Segura. October 14, 2024. EL PAÍS English.
15. Web site: Ukraine ‘Outgunned And Outnumbered’: Desertions En Masse – OpEd. Patial. RC. November 13, 2024.
16. Web site: Ukrainian soldiers increasingly deserting as Russia advances. November 11, 2024. www.intellinews.com.
17. Web site: Ukraine's deserter crisis: one soldier's reasons for quitting divide a nation. Tom Ball. Kyiv. October 10, 2024. www.thetimes.com.
18. Web site: Stanislav Asseyev, Ukrainian journalist: 'We have a huge army of deserters roaming the country'. October 27, 2024. Le Monde.
19. Web site: Number of Ukrainian soldiers accused of abandoning positions soars. Ellie Cook. Security. Defense. Reporter. December 1, 2024. Newsweek.
20. Web site: Can Ukraine’s army survive its deserter crisis?. Svitlana. Morenets. November 27, 2024. The Spectator.
21. Web site: ... antikor.com.ua.
22. Web site: Ukraine is relying on drones to hold back Russian advances. Troops on the frontline are fearing the worst. Nick Paton. Walsh. November 27, 2024. CNN.
23. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818045640/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-26-2024. live.
24. Web site: Russians plan offensive in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions. global.espreso.tv. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815174606/https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-russian-troops-plan-offensive-in-pokrovsk-and-kurakhove-areas. live.
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27. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-10-26 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
28. Web site: Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 31.07.2024 № 645 ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20240812095215/http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202407310006. live.
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36. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War. 2024-08-19. 2024-08-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20240819223648/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-18-2024. live.
37. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-09-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
38. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-10-30 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
39. Web site: 16 August 2024 . RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, AUGUST 16, 2024 . ISW Press . 18 August 2024 . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818112652/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-16-2024 . live .
40. Web site: Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 05.08.2024 № 663 ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов. August 5, 2024. August 16, 2024. August 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805210611/http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202408050017. bot: unknown.
41. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War.
42. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War.
43. Web site: Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 05.08.2024 № 664 ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов. August 5, 2024. August 16, 2024. August 5, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805212403/http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202408050018. bot: unknown.
44. Web site: Axe . David . Popping Smoke And Dodging Drones, Ukrainian Tanks Blast Russian Assault Groups At Close Range . 2024-11-23 . Forbes . en.
45. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-09-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
46. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-09-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
47. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-09-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
48. Web site: A Day After Getting Surrounded Near Prohres, Two Ukrainian Battalions Overruled Their Commander—And Fought Their Way To Safety. David. Axe. Forbes.
49. Web site: Russians form a mechanized battalion from the crew of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier . 2024-09-24 . Militarnyi . en-US.
50. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-10-26 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
51. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-10-27 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
52. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War.
53. Web site: Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War.
54. Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2024-11-23 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
55. Web site: One-third of all enemy attacks target Pokrovsk area - Ukraine's General Staff update. Скринський. Віталій. August 16, 2024. August 17, 2024. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817161513/https://bukvy.org/en/one-third-of-all-enemy-attacks-target-pokrovsk-area-ukraines-general-staff-update/. live.
56. Web site: 2024-09-02 . Undistracted by Kursk offensive, Russia cuts deeper toward Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast . 2024-09-05 . The Kyiv Independent . en.
57. Web site: Deadly shelling in Ukraine's Pokrovsk as Russia gains ground. September 15, 2024. France 24.
58. News: Russia, adapting tactics, advances in Donetsk and takes more Ukrainian land - the Washington Post . . 2024-08-15 . 2024-07-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240728082826/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/27/russia-adapting-tactics-advances-donetsk-takes-more-ukrainian-land/ . live .
59. Web site: Ukraine war: Troops fear encirclement in Pokrovsk as Russians near . 2024-09-24 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
60. Web site: Ukraine Is Proving that it Really Knows How to Restore Justice – Address by the President. szru.gov.ua. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815173201/https://szru.gov.ua/en/news-media/news/ukraine-is-proving-that-it-really-knows-how-to-restore-justice--address-by-the-president. live.
61. Web site: 425th Battalion “Skala” storms invader's positions in Pokrovsk sector.
62. Web site: Risk of encirclement near Prohres: Ukrainian forces say Russians are under their fire. Ukrainska Pravda. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20240803135645/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/24/7467252/. live.
63. Web site: Guerre en Ukraine : « situation critique » près de Pokrovsk, la Russie encercle la 31e brigade ukrainienne. Félix. Pennel. July 24, 2024. La Voix du Nord. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20240803213639/https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1486631/article/2024-07-24/guerre-en-ukraine-situation-critique-pres-de-pokrovsk-la-russie-encercle-une. live.
64. Web site: ... antikor.com.ua.
65. Web site: Abandoned on the Frontline: Inside the 210th Battalion's Struggle . 26 October 2024 .
66. Web site: Why is Syrskyi unable to hold the front? | Censor.NET.
67. Web site: Відмовився від термінової операції, бо боявся підвести людей: помер командир 420-го окремого батальйону Сергій “Чорномор” Ліпський. October 26, 2024. novynarnia.com.
68. News: Russia's bloody summer offensive is hurting Ukraine. The Economist . 2024-08-15. 2024-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815173201/https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/08/06/russias-bloody-summer-offensive-is-hurting-ukraine. live.
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70. Web site: ✙DeepState✙ . 2024-09-01 . Telegram.
71. Web site: Ukraine . Reporting from . 2024-09-05 . Frontline report: Russians make significant advances toward Pokrovsk amid heavy fighting . 2024-09-24 . Euromaidan Press . en-US.
72. Web site: Axe . David . Reinforced By The National Guard, the Ukrainian Army Is Counterattacking—And Just Liberated Part Of A Town Called New York . 2024-09-24 . Forbes . en.
73. Web site: Ukraine official says civilians have 'week or two' to evacuate key hub Pokrovsk. August 19, 2024. Yahoo News. August 19, 2024. August 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240819233419/https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-official-says-civilians-week-110836993.html. live.
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76. Web site: Soldiers of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" liberated the captured position near Klishchiyivka. 2024-08-17. 2024-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822100449/https://mil.in.ua/en/news/soldiers-of-the-93rd-separate-mechanized-brigade-kholodnyi-yar-liberated-the-captured-position-near-klishchiyivka/. live.
77. Web site: Today Lviv region says goodbye to five defenders. Андрій. Гаврилюк. September 28, 2024. Voice of Sokal - news about Sokal, Sheptytskyi.
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79. Web site: "She fought to the end" — Marine Oksana, who fought in Krynky. 2024-08-15. 2024-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20240822100521/https://www.slidstvo.info/english-stories/she-fought-to-the-end-marine-oksana-who-fought-in-krynky/. live.
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81. Web site: Ukrainian paratroopers destroy two Russian Grads in Pokrovsk axis. August 18, 2024. www.ukrinform.net. August 18, 2024. August 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818153559/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3896224-ukrainian-paratroopers-destroy-two-russian-grads-in-pokrovsk-axis.html. live.
82. Web site: Ukrainian paratroopers stop major Russian mechanized assault in the Kurakhove sector . 2024-09-24 . Militarnyi . en-US.
83. Web site: Axe . David . 98 Russian Vehicles Barreled Toward Kurakhove in Back-To-Back Record Assaults. Fire-Spewing Ukrainian Thermite Drones Were Waiting. . 2024-09-24 . Forbes . en.
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92. Web site: Bradley-Supported "Shkval" Unit Prevents Russian Foothold in Novoselivka Persha.