Russian troops are continuing relentless assaults but with dwindling success and morale in the open fields near Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine. According to Maksym Bakulin, press officer of the 14th Operational Brigade “Chervona Kalyna” of Ukraine’s National Guard, the attacks have become both desperate and chaotic, with Russian soldiers often left behind and ultimately surrendering.
Speaking live on Kyiv24, Bakulin reported that the enemy is changing its assault strategies. They are moving from small groups of infantry to more intense offensives involving mechanised units and a surprising surge of motorcycle-style two wheeled attacks. These range from squads of two or three soldiers to assaults involving as many as ninety troops and supported by armoured vehicles, artillery and multiple rocket systems.
The Russians typically gather forces during the dim hours of dawn and dusk. Then, when daylight breaks, they launch their assaults across the front line in the brigade’s area of responsibility. But these offensives have grown increasingly reckless.
Bakulin explained that Russian troops are now charging across open terrain, rather than taking cover among trees or buildings. The apparent goal is to expose Ukrainian defensive positions, allowing Russian commanders to identify drone launch points and incoming fire.
This approach, however, has not brought victories. Instead, it has revealed a growing crisis among Russian forces. When left behind by their units in the chaos of the battlefield, Russian soldiers have begun surrendering to Ukrainian forces rather than continuing to fight.
This marks a significant shift from the early months of the full scale invasion in 2022 and the renewed Russian offensives in the autumn of 2024. By spring 2025, Russia’s offensive has stalled almost entirely. The front line has not moved significantly, and the Kremlin’s forces are paying an enormous price.
In their fruitless attempts to seize Pokrovsk this year alone, Russia has lost more than 100,000 soldiers, either killed or wounded. No meaningful territorial gain has been achieved, despite continued efforts.
Ukraine’s unshaken defence, tactical superiority and resilience on the battlefield continue to frustrate the Russian dictator’s war machine. As military failures pile up, the Kremlin has shifted to targeting civilians in its campaign of terror, further underlining the collapse of its original war objectives.
