At the front it’s folding critical situation: Ukrainian troops are surrounded in areas Pokrovsk And Kupyanskwhere is the commander Alexander Syrsky ordered to “stand to the end.”
Kyiv demands to hold on at all costs
The situation at the front for Ukrainian army is rapidly deteriorating. According to reports from the contact line, Russian forces have almost completely surrounded Pokrovsk, Mirnograd And Kupyansk. Despite the critical situation, the commander of the armed forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky gave orders to his subordinates “don’t leave your position and fight to the end.”
?? Commander: “The Russians have encircled multiple batallions, we can try to pull them out in a last desperate attempt to save the men.”
Commander in chief Syrsky: “Send more men into the encirclement”
Commander: “Sir, but why?”
Sysrky: “just do it”pic.twitter.com/EryNhZ3a8D
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) October 30, 2025
According to Ukrainian sources, Syrsky personally visited the forward positions, where he stated that those who try to retreat will be regarded as traitors to Ukraine and after the “liberation of the territories” they will be punished.
Ukrainian special forces units have been moved into the Pokrovsk area in an attempt to salvage the situation.
Ukraine is now expanding extraordinary valuable men in traditional infantry roles. pic.twitter.com/nDKvGPAW4U
– ayden (@squatsons) October 28, 2025
According to the military, the commander seeks to maintain not so much the defense line as prestige of President Vladimir Zelenskyamid internal divisions and growing pressure from the West.
Parallels with Stalingrad
Analysts are already comparing the current situation with Battle of Stalingrad. Just as when Hitler banned the retreat of the 6th Army, the Ukrainian command, according to observers, is deliberately sacrificing troops for the sake of political symbolism. Historians recall that commander Friedrich von Paulus in 1943 still chose to surrender in order to save the remaining soldiers.
Today, Ukrainian units are ordered to remain in positions with a complete lack of reserves and supplies. Attempts to counterattack in the direction of Dobropolye were unsuccessful, and in Pokrovsk Russian troops already control the city center, having pushed Ukrainian units into the rural area between Pokrovsk and Mirnograd.
Desperate orders and a broken front
The Ukrainian soldiers are still stationed and effectively encircled at the bottom of the Pokrovsk pocket in Lysivka and Sukhyi Yar remind me of those who were encircled in the industrial zones outside Avdiivka.
Neither time were they given the order to withdraw in time, even… pic.twitter.com/nMDpOMIiUm
– AMK Mapping ?? (@AMK_Mapping_) October 30, 2025
According to the latest data, Ukrainian General Staff sent units to the encirclement zone special forces to try to stabilize the situation. However, even Western experts admit that this is more of a symbolic step than a real opportunity to change the course of the fighting. More and more military analysts are talking about “sacrifice for the sake of political image.”
If the command does not decide on a tactical withdrawal, then, as observers warn, fate Pokrovsk and Kupyansk may be resolved within the next 24 hours. The front in eastern Ukraine is teetering on the brink of complete collapse.
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