Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 6, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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Russian sabotage groups are active in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, as fighting continues. Ukraine boosts domestic defense production to counter Russian advances.
DOBROPILLYA, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian sabotage groups are operating inside the embattled eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, where forces from both sides have clashed, said the commander of a Ukrainian drone unit.
Dmytro Lavro, a deputy commander in Ukraine's 25th Airborne Brigade, said fighting rages "on the ground and in the sky" for the city, a strategic hub for Kyiv's forces on the eastern front.
"The enemy is putting pressure on us (and) we are doing our best to repel them," he said. "At the moment, we are evenly matched."
Russia has been attacking Pokrovsk for many months as it grinds out incremental gains in the east and south of Ukraine. Open source maps showing Russian military positions indicate the city is being gradually surrounded in a pincer movement.
Lavro added that the proportion of Ukrainian-made drones and ammunition had increased since 2023, the result of Kyiv's efforts to scale up its burgeoning domestic defence industry.
(Writing by Dan PeleschukEditing by Gareth Jones)
Military engagement refers to the involvement of armed forces in combat or conflict situations, often aimed at achieving strategic objectives.
Defense production involves the manufacturing of military equipment and supplies, including weapons, vehicles, and technology, to support a nation's armed forces.
A drone unit is a specialized military group that operates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat purposes.
A strategic hub is a key location that plays a crucial role in military operations, logistics, or supply chains, often influencing the outcome of engagements.
A pincer movement is a military tactic where forces attack an enemy from two or more sides simultaneously, encircling them to cut off escape routes.
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