Fog Assists Russian Forces' Advance in Strategic Ukrainian City of Pokrovsk

Wed Nov 12 2025 13:21:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy fog has facilitated Russian troops' push into the critical city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, raising alarms over escalating military confrontations as Kyiv's forces struggle to defend their positions.

In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian troops have gained significant ground in Pokrovsk, aided by thick fog that has obscured aerial surveillance. This enables increased troop movements, causing Ukrainian commanders to express concerns over encirclement and intensified attacks. The situation remains precarious as both sides grapple for control amidst deteriorating conditions.

Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps reports that the poor weather has prompted Moscow to intensify its efforts to strengthen their presence in the city and encircle Ukrainian forces.

Russian forces have spent more than a year trying to seize Pokrovsk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has noted that the current weather conditions are favoring Russian assaults, making the situation particularly difficult.

Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has warned that the military circumstances along the southeastern frontline near Zaporzhzhia have seriously deteriorated, with the loss of three settlements.

Syrskyi mentioned that Russia’s primary focus remains on Pokrovsk, where a viral video surfaced showing Russian soldiers traversing a foggy road on civilian vehicles and motorbikes.

The BBC has confirmed the location of the video as the Selidove-Pokrovsk highway's southern outskirts.

A Ukrainian drone pilot from the 68th brigade explained that prolonged fog conditions hampered aerial reconnaissance, allowing the Russians to carry out assaults that they normally could not have conducted due to the risk of being detected by drones.

The 7th Corps has stated that the presence of approximately 300 Russian soldiers in Pokrovsk has increased since President Zelensky last shared that figure. Current assessments from monitoring groups indicate that Russian troops are closing in on multiple areas of the city.

Mapping data demonstrates that most of Pokrovsk lies within a grey zone of contested control, with Ukrainian forces holding positions in some buildings while Russian soldiers occupy others. Moscow aims to encapsulate Pokrovsk and surrounding zones in a tactic known as a 'cauldron'.

In response to escalating threats, Ukrainian troops have made strategic advances to push back Russian forces in adjacent territories, aiming to maintain essential supply routes and defend their positions in the besieged city.

The ongoing battle tactics have included Russian soldiers infiltrating urban areas disguised as civilians, which has raised alarm for Ukrainian defenders struggling to cope with the evolving and chaotic situation on the ground.