Russian forces continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction and appear to be operating with increasing comfort within Pokrovsk itself. Geolocated footage published on November 3 indicates that elements of the Russian 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st Combined Arms Army [CAA], formerly 1st Donetsk People’s Republic Army Corps [DNR AC], Southern Military District [SMD]) recently advanced in southern Myrnohrad (east of Pokrovsk) and that Russian forces advanced in eastern Rodynske (north of Pokrovsk).[1] Additional geolocated footage published on November 2 shows Ukrainian forces striking two Russian servicemembers in northwestern Pokrovsk engaged in what ISW assesses was an infiltration mission that did not change the control of terrain or the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA).[2] A Ukrainian officer reported on November 3 that Russian forces continue efforts to infiltrate further into Pokrovsk and are attempting to establish observation posts and concentrate personnel within the town.[3] The Ukrainian officer stated that Russian forces are attempting to establish defenses in unspecified areas of Pokrovsk. A source reportedly affiliated with Ukrainian military intelligence reported on November 1 that Russian forces continue to infiltrate into Pokrovsk from the Zvirove-Shevchenko-Novopavlivka area (south to southwest of Pokrovsk) and are accumulating on the northeastern outskirts of Pokrovsk near Rivne and on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk.[4] The source also stated that Russian forces are beginning to establish forward observation posts and drone operator positions as Russian forces accumulate a sufficient amount of manpower in Pokrovsk and “settle” into these positions. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) published footage on November 3 showing Russian forces reportedly interacting with and evacuating civilians from within Pokrovsk, and Russian milbloggers claimed on November 2 and 3 that Russian soldiers are checking the documents of civilians in the town.[5]
Ukrainian forces continue defensive efforts and counterattacks in the Pokrovsk direction. Geolocated footage published on November 3 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in eastern Rodynske, an area in which Russian sources previously claimed that Russian sources maintained a presence.[6] The Ukrainian 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces reported that Ukrainian forces “created opportunities” to resupply and reinforce troops in the Pokrovsk direction in the last few days.[7] The corps stated that Ukrainian forces prevented Russian forces from further advances in northern Pokrovsk and from cutting the H-32 Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad highway.
Ukrainian forces have liberated a significant portion of the Russian penetration in the Dobropillya direction on the eastern flank of the Pokrovsk effort. Ukrainian forces have been steadily liberating and clearing the Russian penetration near Dobropillya in recent weeks. A Russian milblogger claimed on November 2 that Ukrainian forces liberated Nove Shakhove (east of Dobropillya) and published a map claiming that Russian forces hold positions no farther north than the area south of Kucheriv Yar (northeast of Dobropillya).[8] The Ukrainian General Staff reported on October 26 that Ukrainian forces liberated Kucheriv Yar sometime between October 16 and 26, and ISW assessed at the time that Ukrainian forces also liberated Zolotyi Kolodyaz (just northwest of Kucheriv Yar).[9] Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on October 31 that Ukrainian forces liberated Dorozhnie (southeast of Dobropillya).[10] Russian and Ukrainian sources have also recently reported fighting and Ukrainian counterattacks at the base of the salient near Mayak and Zapovidne (both southeast of Dobropillya) without reporting fighting in the penetration northeast and east of Dobropillya, suggesting that these areas are no longer contested.[11]
Ukrainian efforts to cut off the Russian salient east of Dobropillya are likely generating tactical effects on Russian efforts to encircle the Ukrainian pocket near Pokrovsk. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on November 3 that Ukrainian forces are increasing pressure on the Dobropillya salient, forcing Russian forces to disperse their troops and complicating Russia’s main efforts near Pokrovsk.[12] Elements of the Russian 51st Combined Arms Army (CAA, formerly 1st Donetsk People’s Republic Army Corps [DNR AC], Southern Military District [SMD]) have been attempting to widen and exploit the penetration since August 2025 while also attacking east, northeast, and north of Pokrovsk.[13] Mashovets assessed on October 20 that the 51st CAA was bogged down in the Dobropillya direction to the detriment of its offensive operations north of Pokrovsk and subsequently reported on October 27 that the 51st CAA sharply reduced its activity in the Dobropillya salient in order to focus on offensive operations on the northern and eastern flank of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area.[14] The Russian military command also deployed naval infantry units to support 51st CAA attacks near the base of the Dobropillya salient after initially redeploying the naval infantry elements to support the 8th CAA (SMD) in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area — demonstrating how Ukrainian efforts to halt Russia’s exploitation of its Dobropillya penetration have tied up relatively elite Russian naval infantry elements.[15]
Elements of the Russian 2nd CAA (Central Military District [CMD]) have been leading the Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk and encircle the Ukrainian pocket from the south and southwest.[16] The 2nd CAA has had more success than the elements of the 51st CAA operating on the eastern and northern flank of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad pocket have been having. Ukrainian efforts in the Dobropillya salient have likely slowed the 51st CAA’s efforts to seize Myrnohrad and encircle the pocket from the north and northeast. Ukraine’s counterattacks against the Dobropillya salient during ongoing Russian efforts to encircle the Pokrovsk pocket are a notable inflection compared to how Ukrainian forces reacted to previous Russian encirclement efforts. Ukrainian forces appear to be trying to counterattack on a different but supporting sector in order to pressure one flank of the Russian encirclement effort.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev reiterated the Kremlin’s objective of taking control of all of Ukraine. Medvedev claimed on his English- and Russian-language Telegram channels on November 3 that the more the West supports Ukraine, the larger the amount of Ukrainian territory that Russia will “eventually return to its native Russia.”[17] Medvedev called for “Russia’s” citizens and Russian power to “return…to ancestral Russian lands” in Ukraine. Medvedev’s statement mirrors claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been making consistently since before the full-scale invasion that Russians and Ukrainians are one nation and that “Ukraine is [Russia’s].”[18] Medvedev also forwarded narratives to try to persuade Europe to halt aid to Ukraine. ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin is committed to its original war aims in Ukraine and is unwilling to negotiate on terms less than Ukraine’s complete capitulation.[19]
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction and appear to be operating with increasing comfort within Pokrovsk itself.
- Ukrainian forces continue defensive efforts and counterattacks in the Pokrovsk direction.
- Ukrainian forces have liberated a significant portion of the Russian penetration in the Dobropillya direction on the eastern flank of the Pokrovsk effort.
- Ukrainian efforts to cut off the Russian salient east of Dobropillya are likely generating tactical effects on Russian efforts to encircle the Ukrainian pocket near Pokrovsk.
- Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev reiterated the Kremlin’s objective of taking control of all of Ukraine.
- Ukraine’s European allies provided Ukraine with long-range missiles and air defense systems.
- Authorities reported more unidentified drone sightings near German airports.
- Ukrainian forces advanced near Kupyansk. Russian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast, near Siversk and Pokrovsk, and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.