Russian Victory Turned Malynivka To Ulyanovka: Eestern Flank Of Pokrovsk Collapsing

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The Ukrainian front in the Donetsk sector, stretching over 40 kilometers, has collapsed under relentless Russian pressure, with Moscow’s forces advancing across the entire line of contact. On June 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed full control over the village of Ulyanovka (Malynivka in Ukrainian), an important Ukrainian stronghold on the eastern flank of Pokrovsk (known as Krasnoarmeysk in Russian).

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing troops from the 39th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade securing Ulyanovka after a well-executed assault. Operating in small tactical groups and using adverse weather conditions for cover, Russian soldiers moped up entrenched Ukrainian positions one after another. Ukrainian forces had fortified a local farm, turning it into a stronghold, but most of its defenders either fled under darkness or were captured. Those who attempted to escape were intercepted and eliminated.

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To the south, battles are approaching Mykolaivka and Russian troops have pushed Ukrainian forces out of several strongpoints near Hrodivka, tightening the noose around the remaining Ukrainian garrisons in Pokrovsk and neighboring Mirnograd (Dimitrov). Ulyanovka’s capture now threatens these key logistical hubs with Russian attacks from new direction, further destabilizing Kyiv’s defensive efforts in the region.

The Russian military has intensified strikes on Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovsk urban agglomeration. Russian reconnaissance units are uncovering hidden Ukrainian drone launch and control sites concealed in abandoned buildings across Pokrovsk and Novoeconomicheskoye. These positions were swiftly destroyed by Geran-2 drones, disrupting Ukrainian surveillance and strike capabilities:

Satellite imagery reveals an unprecedented bombardment campaign along the Ukrainian defensive line between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, with approximately 950 airstrikes recorded over the past three weeks. The heaviest strikes have been concentrated in the Pokrovsk sector, while the Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka areas have seen slightly less intensity. This massive air campaign began in late May, coinciding with Russian advances near Troitske and Bohdanivka, which collapsed Ukrainian positions and forced a wider retreat. The sheer volume of strikes suggests a deliberate strategy to soften defenses before further ground assaults.

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With Ulyanovka secured, Russian forces now threaten to further envelop Pokrovsk from the north while maintaining pressure from the east. The fall of Ukrainian defense in this sector would open a direct path to the west and further destabilize Ukrainian supply lines on a wide front.

Ukrainian troops, already strained by manpower shortages and dwindling Western support, appear unable to hold back the Russian advance. The rapid collapse of fortified positions indicates a broader breakdown in morale and command cohesion.

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