“The next 24 hours will likely be decisive”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Russian forces have broken through Ukraine’s defense line: “Chaotic”

Joachim Kerpner

Updated 00.30 | Published 2025-08-12 22.18

Russian forces have made a breakthrough in Ukraine’s defense line north of Pokrovsk.

They are said to have advanced one kilometer in a short time, according to independent military analysts.

The Ukrainian army denies the reports, but the Ukrainian website Deep State states that “the situation is chaotic”.

Quick version

• Russian forces have broken through the Ukrainian defense line north of Pokrovsk and driven a 17 kilometer wedge, according to reports from independent sources.
• The Ukrainian army denies these reports and claims that attempts to reinforce the Russian troops have been repulsed.
• The situation on the ground is described as chaotic, and the situation is said to be changing rapidly with potentially decisive developments in the coming days.

With only three days left until the meeting where Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin  are to discuss Ukraina's future in Alaska, the playing field may have changed.

BothThe New York Times and the exiled Russian newspaper Meduza report that Russian forces have broken through Ukrainian fortifications on a front section north of the city of Pokrovsk.

– The situation is chaotic. The enemy has found holes in the defense and is trying to quickly gain a foothold and bring forces there for further advance, writes the Ukrainian site Deep State, which has connections to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, on its Telegram page.

 

Russian military has made a 17-kilometer deep advance through Ukrainian lines. Photo: AP

Deteriorated rapidly

Both Deep State and the Finnish website Black Bird Group are following developments on the battlefield in detail. Deep State stated yesterday, Monday, that Russian forces had made an eight-, nine-kilometer deep breakthrough up to the villages of Kutcherov Yar and Zolotoy Kolodets, which are located north of Pokrovsk.

Black Bird Group claimed on Monday that the situation north of Pokrovsk has rapidly deteriorated, and that Russian military has made a 17-kilometer deep advance through Ukrainian lines.

– According to our information, Russian groups have reached the T0514 road between Dobropolje and Kramatorsk, Pasi Paironen at Black Bird Group wrote on X yesterday, Monday, and continued:

– The next 24-48 hours will likely be crucial for whether the Ukrainians will manage to handle the situation before Russian infiltration groups are reinforced and they can continue to spread in several directions in the same way as they have done in previous similar situations.

 

Ukrainian army headquarters denies reports of a Russian breakthrough. Photo: Jaimi Joy / AP

Ukrainian army headquarters denies reports of a Russian breakthrough. In a press release, it is stated that Russian forces have overrun Ukrainian forces on a front section and tried to send more soldiers there:

– But our forces have repelled these attempts, the press release says.

  

The map from Black Bird Group shows the Russian breakthrough north of Pokrovsk. Photo: Black Bird Group / X