Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 31, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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Ukraine lands special forces in Pokrovsk to counter Russian advances, with operations overseen by spy chief Kyrylo Budanov.
By Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine landed special forces to fight in embattled parts of the eastern city of Pokrovsk earlier this week, just as Russia said it had surrounded Kyiv's forces in the area, two Ukrainian military sources said on Friday.
The operation shows how Ukraine is battling to stabilise the situation in the strategically important city after scores of Russian troops breached its perimeter this month. Russia's capture of Pokrovsk, an important road and rail hub, could enable further advances into the eastern Donetsk region, which Russia aims to fully occupy. Moscow's military has been inching forward towards Pokrovsk for over a year.
The Ukrainian special forces landed in a Black Hawk helicopter a few days ago in the operation, which was complicated by Russian drone activity, a source in the 7th Rapid Response Corps said.
SPY CHIEF OVERSEES OPERATION
The operation was overseen by military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov, and the troops headed to areas of the city claimed by Russia and seen by Moscow as vital for Ukrainian supply lines, the other source said.
At least 10 servicemen could be seen dismounting from a helicopter in a field in a video seen by Reuters. The news agency could not independently confirm the location or date when the video was filmed.
Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Ukrainian operation.
At least 200 Russian troops have penetrated the city's defences and made it inside, the Ukrainian military has said.
Kyiv's army chief acknowledged on Thursday that the situation was "difficult," saying supply lines and defences in the area needed to be bolstered.
DeepState, a Ukrainian open-source mapping project, estimates that at least half of the city lies in a contested area fully controlled by neither side.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy referred directly to the battle of Pokrovsk in his evening address to Ukrainians.
"We continue to destroy the occupier. The most important thing is to stop Russian attacks wherever possible."
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Tom BalmorthEditing by Rod Nickel)
A special forces unit is a military group trained to conduct unconventional operations, including counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, and direct action missions, often in high-risk environments.
A military operation is a coordinated action undertaken by armed forces to achieve specific objectives in a conflict or war, often involving strategic planning and execution.
A supply line refers to the route through which military supplies, equipment, and personnel are delivered to troops in the field, crucial for sustaining operations.
A contested area is a region where two or more parties claim control, leading to conflict or military engagement, often resulting in instability and uncertainty.
Military intelligence involves the collection and analysis of information related to enemy forces, capabilities, and intentions, essential for strategic decision-making in military operations.
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