It Took 10 Brigades, Urgently Redeploying, For Ukraine to Block Russia's Pokrovsk Incursion

There may have been thousands of Russian troops in the nine-mile salient, but they lacked drones

1st Azov Corps photo

The Russian penetration of Ukrainian lines northeast of Pokrovsk last week was bigger and more dangerous than some analysts initially concluded.

We know this because we know what it took for Ukrainian forces to block further Russian advances—and then begin rolling back the incursion this week. It took all or some of around 10 brigades and regiments, including several fighting under the banner of the Ukrainian national guard’s new 1st Azov Corps.

Ukraine redeployed elements from the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades, 1st and 425th Assault Regiments, 25th Assault Battalion, 2nd Battalion of the 92nd Assault Brigade, 32nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades, 38th Marine Brigade, 14th National Guard Brigade and the Birds of Magyar drone brigade.

Ukrainian police, special operators, Leopard 1A5 tanks and a few gun-armed ground robots (see video below) also joined the counterattack.