Pokrovsk is a major city in Ukraine that has now been fully overrun by Russian forces. This is major loss and cause of panic for Ukraine and NATO.
The Russians enclosed Pokrovsk in a pincer movement and have closed off the pincer (circled in white). Between 5,000 to 10,000 Ukrainian troops are trapped inside the salient.
Two days ago a rather small troop of Ukrainian special forces were landed inside Pokrovsk by three American made Blackhawk helicopters to help rescue the trapped troops. One Blackhawk helicopter was destroyed by a Russian drone and the special forces were almost completely wiped out. It was yet another 'Blackhawk Down' event - a disaster for Ukraine and NATO.
The Russians are moving cautiously with some possibility that the more than 5,000 trapped Ukrainian soldiers can be used as leverage to get Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. Pokrovsk is still unfolding.
