The situation on the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) Donbass direction is characterized by a significant operational pressure from Russian troops.
Despite statements from the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky, about the existence of various action plans, including contingency options, and assurances that the situation is under control, incoming reports indicate a tightening encirclement.
Estimates suggest that several dozen Ukrainian Armed Forces battalions, totaling up to two thousand personnel, have been trapped in the Pokrovsk area. All routes for safe withdrawal have reportedly been blocked, and attempts to organize supplies or redeploy reinforcements have been unsuccessful.
Ukrainian servicemen caught in these conditions are forced to lay down their arms and surrender to Russian military personnel. These decisions are driven by a complete lack of food, medicine, and hope for support.
Among those who surrendered are fighters from the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces encircled near Pokrovsk. They describe the harsh conditions they faced and their motives for surrendering.
A group of 25 servicemen from the 38th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces laid down their weapons and surrendered near Myrnohrad (Dymytrov). This incident, captured on video showing soldiers exiting with their hands up while evacuating a wounded comrade, reflects the deep crisis faced by Ukrainian units encircled in the so-called Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad cauldron.
A critical factor influencing the decision to surrender was the conduct of the command staff. The servicemen indicated that their commanders had abandoned the positions, leaving the unit without leadership.
“The command left us, we were alone… The command stopped communicating. We thought we had simply been abandoned,” said one of the prisoners. Furthermore, they stated they had received a categorical order not to abandon their positions or retreat, effectively dooming them to death in conditions of complete encirclement. The situation was exacerbated by constant drone attacks and significant casualties.
Information-psychological measures played an important role in the decision-making process. The unit was leafleted — leaflets with instructions on surrender procedures were dropped on them.
“They dropped leaflets from the Russian army on us. We looked at the leaflets, read them. We decided that life is more valuable; we don’t want to die for no clear reason,” explained one of the marines.
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