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Ghosts In Ruins: Russia’s New Urban Warfare Reshaping Battle For Pokrovsk

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Ghosts In Ruins: Russia’s New Urban Warfare Reshaping Battle For Pokrovsk

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The prolonged large-scale operations in Ukraine have forced the warring sides to rapidly adapt their warfare, including in urban combat. The battle for the key city of Pokrovsk highlights how Russia has refined its approach, moving from large-scale assaults to infiltration.

The first evidence of Russian assault groups operating in Pokrovsk came on July 22. Since then, their presence was confirmed in the eastern, southern and central districts, but the current zones of urban control are still difficult to be clearly determined. The reason is the new tactics of the Russian military, called “total infiltration”.

Russia’s urban warfare tactics have evolved through three distinct phases. The first was exemplified by the first major urban battle of Mariupol. This was a brutal, large-scale siege, where overwhelming firepower and total encirclement crushed Ukrainian resistance. Russian forces relied on heavy armor, artillery, and air superiority.

However, by the time of the battle for Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces had adapted. Foreign-supplied weapons and fierce resistance on the flanks made encirclements nearly impossible. Drones, particularly FPV models, began reshaping the battlefield, making armored vehicles vulnerable. Tanks and IFVs were forced to operate from a distance. Russia then turned to assault teams, engaging in grueling, close-quarter battles.

Today, in Pokrovsk, Russia’s tactics have shifted again. Small reconnaissance and sabotage groups operate deep behind Ukrainian lines amid growing pressure on the flanks. Unlike Mariupol or Bakhmut, Pokrovsk sees minimal use of armored vehicles. Tanks have largely been withdrawn from urban combat due to the extreme threat posed by drones. Instead, Russian forces rely on extremely small, fast-moving assault teams often comprised of just 2-4 soldiers.

The goal is to infiltrate, isolate, and overwhelm Ukrainian positions without exposing large formations to drone strikes. The attack groups are aimed at swiftly crossing the kill zone undetected, often on motorcycles or other light vehicles. Unlike the tanks, the deployment of a large number of UAVs against such small maneuverable targets is no longer profitable.

This approach exploits Ukraine’s manpower shortages. Massive strikes with glide bombs and artillery shelling still largely soften defenses before infantry advances. The depleted and scattered Ukrainian defenses can no longer withstand these dotted but massive attacks, allowing Russian squads to slip through and gain footholds.

Russia’s new strategy demonstrates a hybrid approach blending infiltration, overwhelming firepower, and decentralized assaults. The Pokrovsk battles suggest that an individual soldier’s skills now matter more than ever. With fewer supporting assets, each fighter must be proficient in multiple roles such as drone operation, medical aid, and survival behind enemy lines.

Urban warfare is no longer about brute force but about adaptability, stealth, and outthinking the enemy.

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the narrative

the word impressive comes to mind . but i believe the russian army will only continue to improve more . the bear is growing larger .

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BigFatMac

not at all. why do you even say such stupid things?

rasputin

to send commandos behind enemy lines is quite good because it is very dangerous, can you give the reasons for your opinion?

Bob

you think. it’s safer in the front line do you?

Bob

he’s paid too. and certain people want that sort of spinnphlicised to make it look as if the battle for control of russia is valiant. imo

Bob

so much rhetorical scripted rubbish. as if.

Антон

small uavs used even against single troopers, so its profitable against small groups. 2 days ago i watched there a video of strike on abandoned (by ukros) motorcycle. nazis have shortage of men, artillery, aviation and heavy armor, so they rely on uavs more and more. plus lower price, no need in launcher. up to 60% of strikes are done with uavs. but if/when countermeasures will be more effective, artillery will be number 1 again.

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rasputin

it will stay both, drones have reshaped the battlefield

Bob

where do they feed you all this from?

Антон

what exactly, jensy?

Last edited 18 days ago by Антон
Антон

need to add, infiltration works while there are holes in defense and low number of enemies for kilometer of front line. strategy is the same — grinding mobilization potential of nazis to zero. it was 2 mln in 2022, now its 0,2-0,25. slow advancing prevents massive damage, rises morale and creates uncertainty among enemies. it’s possible to grind nazis without moving forward, but they starting to think they are too good in defense and have more chances in begging for new munition.

rasputin

indeed it can only be done when the enemy has shortages in manpower, otherwise they would clean up the areas behind the frontline💯

R. Ambrose Raven

sounds like the soldierly prerequisites for jungle warfare, except that communication and visibility are much easier.

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Hunter_Of_Orcs_And_Arabs

bring it you orc bastads!

heheheh

Last edited 20 days ago by Hunter_Of_Orcs_And_Arabs
rasputin

thank you for your messages very funny😂😂😂

Israel-USA Rule The World!

when ussr collapsed in 1990’s many russian men became gay male prostitutes who sold man-ass for $1-2.

some things never change…heheheh

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BigFatMac

now the zombie orchs soldiers who don’t die for vladolfs nazism immediately, if getting hospital treatment risk getting hepatitis c or hiv. now, this do not affect vladolf or those kissing vladolfs ass in a bunker, they are safe. also baboschka is pretty content with men dying to “man up”, now the useless son in law disappear and she can be the man in the family home dictating everything.

Last edited 19 days ago by BigFatMac
rasputin

is this written by a computer because it makes no sense. it isn’t even funny which is the biggest problem😂😂😂

Bob

hebehebehehe

BigFatMac

are you kissing vladolfs ass, yes or no?

rasputin

it sounds like you are dreaming of this🤡

Carlos Hathcock

ukraine’s most elite troops are dead, nobody with special skills wants to be wasted joining an already lost war. that leaves russian spetsnaz as the most feared battle hardened military units in the world.

i doubt any honorable us special military forces would want to be associated with netanyahu’s current puppet regime in dc, after what lt col anthony aguilar described as war crimes & crimes against humanity by the establishment. death to all the sof sobs

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BigFatMac

who cares even baboschka can slap the life out of zombie orchs with her handbag, so what are worried about? didn’t you get your drugs from your drug dealer today?

The andgroynomist

i grow my own shitakes inside the sheetrock walls, i am selfsufficient and more. may be you want ot party with me?

rasputin

this bot has to be reprogrammed it makes no sense🥶

Bob

put it back in your undies crock of dundee

Dael

holy shit! this is probably the first time in human history that urban warfare (as traditionally costly it can be) that it has ever been waged this cost effectively in terms of both men and material.
does the west even know what this war has turned russia into?
it hasn’t weakened them in the slightest but only made them stronger. things like this make me realise that in terms of raw battle experience against near peer or peer to peer opponents russia has the strongest army in the world.

Christopher

“war is a violent teacher”. thucydides

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