Urban combat in eastern Ukraine is escalating rapidly. Between January 12-13, 2026, fighting near Pokrovsk killed or wounded over 300 Russian soldiers in one day. Moscow has sent 100,000-170,000 troops to break Ukrainian defenses there.
Freezing temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit intensify combat. Both armies fight fiercely in ruined buildings and industrial zones. Winter has become another weapon neither side controls.
The Death Toll Mounts
Russian losses near Pokrovsk are enormous. For every Ukrainian casualty, Russia loses 15 soldiers. Over 1,500 Russian troops have died or been injured monthly since late 2025.
On January 12 alone, Ukraine reported 365 Russian losses. This includes 66 killed and 299 wounded. These numbers rank among the war’s bloodiest battles. Moscow keeps attacking despite huge losses.
Strategic Crossroads
Pokrovsk sits at a critical location. If Russia captures it, Moscow can push west toward Pavlohrad and Kryvyi Rih. Before the war, 100,000 people lived in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area.
Now it anchors Ukraine’s western defense in Donetsk. The city’s tall buildings and high terrain provide Ukrainian defenders with an advantage. Beyond Pokrovsk lies open grassland.
Logistics Under Fire
Ukraine’s supply lines to Pokrovsk are constantly under attack. Russian drones and artillery target evacuation routes and ammunition trucks. Ukrainian soldiers now walk up to 30 miles on foot to reach positions.
Vehicle routes are too dangerous. Supplies arrive by drone and robots. Winter makes it worse. Ukraine must deliver warm clothes and heating equipment under fire.
The Air Assault Forces Hold
Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps defends Pokrovsk. This elite Air Assault unit includes the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade and 77th Airmobile Brigade. On January 12-13, they stopped 57 Russian attacks.
Paratroopers killed over 20 Russian soldiers in one operation. Northern Pokrovsk remains under Ukrainian control. The 7th Corps uses artillery, drones, and patrols to prevent Russian buildup. They trade ground for casualties.
The Drone War Within
Russian drone pilots drive Moscow’s attacks near Pokrovsk. Ukraine destroyed 39 Russian drone teams on January 12 alone. The 7th Corps then eliminated 45 Russian drones in 24 hours, plus 12 vehicles.
Russia replaces drone operators easily because it has more soldiers. Ukraine must save every experienced pilot it has. Neither side can win decisive ground victories.
Trapped in Place
About 1,250 civilians remain in Pokrovsk. Another 1,350 are trapped in the nearby town of Myrnohrad. They cannot leave. Russian drones and artillery destroyed escape routes months ago.
On January 6, Ukrainian authorities stated that evacuations cannot occur. Anyone trying to leave faces overwhelming Russian fire. Drones deliver the only aid. Families hide in basements, rationing food and water. Power and water are gone.
The Winter Offensive Stalls
Russian military blogs and Ukrainian analysts reported a slowdown in momentum in mid-January. High casualties, extreme cold, and Ukrainian attacks force Russia into defense. The 7th Corps uses drones and artillery preemptively.
This stops Russia from massing forces. Ukraine keeps Russian units spread out and under pressure. Both armies suffer unsustainable losses daily.
Propaganda and Posture
The 7th Corps believes Russia now prioritizes propaganda over military gains. Russian attacks on Myrnohrad’s south side “aim at a domestic audience,” the Corps stated.
Moscow may conduct high-casualty attacks mainly to show the Russian media progress. Russia keeps attacking despite repeated failures. Moscow’s military command faces pressure from civilian leaders to deliver visible territorial wins.
Civilians Become Pawns
Russia engineered a humanitarian chokehold around Pokrovsk. By destroying escape routes and watching civilians with drones, Moscow made them hostages. Of 192,600 civilians left in Ukrainian Donetsk, 1,250 are stuck in Pokrovsk.
Trapped civilians limit Ukrainian tactics. Ukraine cannot use maximum firepower in residential areas without killing non-combatants. Russia faces no such restriction. This asymmetry works against Ukraine strategically.
On the Ground: Paratroopers Speak
Ukrainian paratroopers describe a mix of exhaustion and determination. Soldiers rotate through brutal combat with little rest. A Ukrainian officer told Deutsche Welle that infiltration is “the primary concern.” Russian soldiers advance in small groups using drones to set traps.
Identifying combatants versus civilians is “extremely challenging.” Some units walk 30 miles on foot to positions. Despite hardship, they conduct patrols and pre-emptive strikes.
Command Structure Holds Firm
The 7th Corps stays operationally organized despite brutal conditions. Unlike earlier war phases, the 7th Corps units do not collapse or retreat. The 25th Sicheslav and 77th Airmobile brigades coordinate defensive operations.
The Corps reported it is “holding back the enemy in the north” as of January 12. Command, control, and morale remain strong. The Corps strikes preemptively, targets Russian supply roads, and searches for Russian concentrations. Organization is Ukraine’s advantage.
Winter: The Equalizer
Extreme cold below 20 degrees Fahrenheit became a secondary battlefield. Ukrainian soldiers report temperatures are slow on both sides. Russian forces lack cold-weather gear. Casualties from cold injury exceed Ukrainian cold casualties.
The 7th Corps supplies units with warm clothing and heating devices. Russian forces lack equivalent cold-weather supplies. Winter creates an unintended Ukrainian edge. It favors the side with better supply systems, not better terrain or tactics.
The Casualty Calculus
Ukraine’s General Staff reported 990 Russian deaths and injuries on January 14 alone. Over the course of one month (mid-December to mid-January), Russian losses near Pokrovsk exceeded 1,500. Sustaining 100,000-170,000 troops while absorbing 990 daily losses requires constant rotation.
Ukrainian losses are smaller but unsustainable for a smaller force. Both sides claim different numbers. Western analysts report consistent 15-to-1 casualty ratios in favor of Russia. Russian attacks genuinely fail to break Ukrainian positions.
Can the 7th Corps Hold?
The critical question remains: How long can the 7th Corps endure? Pokrovsk stayed under Ukrainian control as of January 14, but barely. Russian forces entered the northern city blocks. The 7th Corps endured months of grinding attrition.
They stopped Russian advances through aggressive tactics and maintained supply lines despite attacks. Yet trapped civilians add pressure. If the 7th Corps retreats, Pokrovsk falls. International military support and ammunition remain essential. The stalemate could last indefinitely or collapse suddenly.