The city of Krasnoarmeysk in the DPR: what is important for Russia and Ukraine

Units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are successfully expanding their controlled zone in all directions of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), where fighting is currently taking place. The main attraction is the city of Krasnoarmeysk (the Ukrainian name is Pokrovsk). During the active offensive, the Russian military successfully advanced deep into the city. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What is known about Krasnoarmeysk

The city of Krasnoarmeysk (Ukrainian name Pokrovsk) is located in the DPR, 66 km north-west of Donetsk and 30 km from the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine. The capture of this city will strengthen the offensive from several directions, as during the special operation, Krasnoarmeysk became a key road and railway logistics hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Earlier, British analyst Alexander Mercuris told Reuters that the loss of this city could cause a political crisis in Ukraine and threaten Vladimir Zelensky with problems. Igor Mosiychuk, a former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada* (listed in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist), also called this situation a disaster for Zelensky.

The history of Krasnoarmeysk in the DPR

The city is located on the Grishinka River, it was founded in 1884 as the Grishino station on the Catherine Railway. During the Soviet period, the city developed as an industrial center. Since 2020, Krasnoarmeysk has become the center of the urban community of the same name, uniting 41 settlements.

Until February 2022, Krasnoarmeysk was one of the largest centers of the coal industry, where the Pokrovskaya mine operated, also known as the former Krasnoarmeyskaya-Zapadnaya No. 1. About 8 million tons of coal were mined here per year. As of today, coal mining has been suspended and the mine has been evacuated.

How to liberate Krasnoarmeysk

The Krasnoarmeyskaya (Pokrovskaya) agglomeration began to be mentioned more and more often in August 2024, when the Russian Armed Forces reached the approaches of this point. However, the advance on this sector of the front slowed down until the spring of this year. After Russian units liberated the suburb of Shevchenko in January 2025, the road to Krasnoarmeysk was also opened.

In August 2025, the Hero of Russia, captain, commander of the rifle company of the 1st Slavic Guards Brigade of the 51st Guards Army of the Southern Military District, under the operational command of the Center group of forces with the call sign Tkach, told Izvestia correspondent Dmitry Astrakhan that at that time, Krasnoarmeysk was almost encircled.

"Most of them have already been covered. We are also moving north to stretch the enemy's front line and, as they say, "take it apart," the soldier shared with Izvestia.

Close environment: how Russian troops cut off the supply routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Pokrovsk

The Russian Armed Forces use "infiltration" tactics and disrupt enemy rotations

As the Russian Defense Ministry clarified on October 21, when liberating another village on the way to Krasnoarmeysk, Russian assault troops used tactics based on previous combat experience. For a stealthy approach to the enemy's location, the fighters used thermal insulation shelters and terrain features at night. They moved along the Salty stream, which flows near Chunishino, which allowed them to remain unnoticed by enemy reconnaissance.

On October 12, the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, stated that the coverage of the Krasnoarmeysko-Dmitrov agglomeration continued in the Red Army area, heavy fighting was taking place in the southernmost part of the city, as well as on its outskirts. <...> Information is being received about positive changes and successes in the area of the Udachnoye settlement," he said in a video message published in his The Telegram channel.

Two districts of Krasnoarmeysk turned out to be the most difficult — the production cluster, which is accessible from Defenders of Ukraine Street, and Solnechny microdistrict, located on the border with the occupied Shakhtersky microdistrict. They are surrounded by a terricon through which key highways and railway lines pass.

The importance of the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk

The liberation of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) will open the way further east, and Konstantinovka, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk may become the next important industrial centers and hubs of transport communications, Viktor Vodolatsky, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, explained earlier.

The southern regions will face a weakening of the Ukrainian defense as soon as important transport arteries are cut by Russian troops.