Ukraine Smashes Russian Breakthrough Near Pokrovsk, Reclaims Ground in 2 Regions

In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled a large-scale Russian breakthrough attempt by mobile assault groups, with two days of fierce fighting ending in the complete defeat of Moscow’s troops.

Ukraine’s Joint Forces Group said on Telegram Monday, Feb. 9 that aerial reconnaissance by the Spartan unit detected Russian movements in time, allowing Ukrainian units to strike and disrupt the offensive. As a result, an entire Russian assault company and military equipment were destroyed.

A company in Russia typically ranges from 45 to 360 personnel, depending on unit type, making its loss a significant tactical blow – especially during assault operations.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian serviceman who runs the Telegram channel Military reported on Monday, Feb. 9, that Russian troops in the Pokrovsk direction are “whining about three things that are indicative of the front.”

In particular, he said Russian forces are suffering heavy losses from frostbite.

“Logistics are at a minimal level, and the [derogatory term for Russians] have been sitting in dugouts for weeks. Frequent amputations among the enemy, often without evacuation,” he wrote.

He added that Russian troops also complain about a lack of body armor, with Ukrainian forces repeatedly observing assaults carried out without protective gear.

“What the [derogatory term for Russians] complain about the most is losses. The last Russian reported that out of 40 people in his group, 7 remained alive,” Military wrote.

He said Russian units are no longer able to conduct assaults as actively as they did three months ago, though Ukraine continues to face a critical shortage of personnel.

“Even with losses on average 1 to 10, the personnel ratio is 1 to 5-6. That is, if we have 10 soldiers, they have 60… The Russians really don’t pull off such assaults, but unfortunately we don’t have replenishment, especially not any high-quality ones,” he wrote.

Despite this, Ukrainian forces have achieved tactical successes in recent days, not only repelling attacks but also regaining control of settlements.

Ukraine has cleared the village of Ternuvate in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation. He posted a video showing Ukrainian soldiers holding the national flag near a village entry sign.

“Russians sometimes post their… so-called victories for an hour… We are in Ternuvate and doing our job. Ternuvate is ours, Ukrainian,” one soldier said in the video, urging Russian troops to surrender.

Russian forces had previously claimed to have captured the village in late January. Ukrainian officials later confirmed that a Russian sabotage group had briefly infiltrated Ternuvate under the cover of bad weather.

At the time, Ukrainian forces conducted reconnaissance and search operations and cleared the settlement, eliminating one Russian group and taking another prisoner.

In a separate operation, Ukrainian troops also expelled Russian forces from Chuhunivka in the Kharkiv region, about 500 meters from the Russian border.

To the south of the village lies a “gray zone” – an area of active fighting with uncertain control – beyond which are Russian-occupied territories.

According to the 16th Army Corps, Russian soldiers attempted to slip through Ukrainian defenses during poor weather but were detected by reconnaissance drones. The Shkval specialized rifle company was deployed to clear the village, with some Russian troops surrendering during the clash.

“The settlement is under the control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine,” the corps said, adding that Ukrainian flags have been raised in Chuhunivka.

About a quarter of frontline clashes are initiated by Ukrainian forces, AFU Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said last week, adding that Kyiv is actively conducting offensive and counteroffensive operations to keep Russian troops under pressure.

Syrsky said Russian forces achieved no major operational gains in January. In 2025, Ukrainian troops carried out three offensive operations – two in Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions and one in the Dobropillya sector – disrupting Moscow’s plans to seize Donetsk and establish “buffer zones.”

He added that Russia currently has about 711,000-712,000 troops in Ukraine, a figure stable for six months, despite meeting recruitment targets. Daily Russian losses average 1,000-1,100 personnel, he said. Syrsky warned Moscow’s strategic goal remains the capture of all Ukraine, with Russia planning to mobilize about 409,000 troops in 2026 and form at least 11 new divisions.