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By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Ukrainian special forces have reported what they describe as “gigantic” Russian losses near Rodynske, as Moscow’s troops continue to suffer catastrophic casualties while attempting to seize territory in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad region of eastern Ukraine. The announcement, made on Nov. 2 by the Peaky Blinders, the 2nd Separate Detachment of the Omega Special Purpose Center of Ukraine’s National Guard, underscores the brutal cost of Russia’s current offensive push.
“Just gigantic losses for the Russian army near Rodynske,” read the caption to photographs shared on the unit’s Telegram channel, which included graphic images of the aftermath of intense drone strikes. Ukrainian fighters said that most of the Russian soldiers shown were killed by drone attacks.
According to the Peaky Blinders unit, the Russian military continues to throw vast numbers of troops into combat, disregarding tactics and human life. “Dozens of burned or torn-apart bodies of Russian soldiers lie out in the open on the approaches to the city,” the post stated, describing the assault as a senseless human wave attack driven by political orders rather than military logic.
“So when you see enemy advances on maps, know the price the occupiers pay for every square meter of Ukrainian land,” the fighters wrote.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that another 940 Russian troops were killed in the past 24 hours alone, bringing Russia’s total losses since the start of the full-scale invasion to over 1.14 million personnel.
The Situation Near Pokrovsk
Reports indicate that Russian troops have intensified their offensive in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area. According to Ukrainska Pravda, roughly 250 Russian soldiers are currently engaged in heavy fighting within Pokrovsk, with some forces infiltrating Ukrainian positions, including those operated by drone teams. Ukrainian military sources describe the situation as “critical,” with fierce urban combat ongoing.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that Russian troops have made limited advances in the central and western sectors of Pokrovsk, taking up positions near the city’s railway line, though the overall front line remains fluid.
Ukraine’s General Staff acknowledged that Russian invasion forces are massing in the area, significantly outnumbering Ukrainian defenders and increasing the tempo of their assaults. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russian propaganda about alleged Ukrainian encirclement, stressing that although the fighting is intense, Ukrainian positions remain intact.
Units from Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps confirmed that Russian forces have not fully captured any district of Pokrovsk. The DeepState monitoring group described the situation as “on the verge of critical,” noting that Russian advances threaten logistics routes toward Myrnohrad and have created a “gray zone” in the city.
Putin’s Pressure and Strategic Goals
Ukrainian intelligence sources believe Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ordered his generals to occupy Pokrovsk by mid-November, viewing the city’s capture as a symbolic victory amid a broader stalemate across the front. DeepState analysts confirm Russian gains within the city’s center, but report that Ukrainian forces continue to hold key southern positions.
Putin recently claimed that Ukrainian troops were “blocked and encircled” in Pokrovsk and Kupyansk, a statement dismissed by Ukrainian commanders and Western observers as false. On Nov. 1, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasized that Ukraine’s defenses remain stable, saying, “Pokrovsk — holding. Myrnohrad — holding.”
Syrskyi also noted that Ukrainian forces are continuing “liberation and cleanup” operations in the Dobropillia salient, while special units from the Defense Ministry have carried out airborne raids into areas Russian generals prematurely declared captured.
Analysis: A Costly Offensive for Moscow
According to ISW’s Nov. 1 report, Russian forces have stepped up assaults in an effort to seize full control of Pokrovsk, advancing marginally in central and southeastern sectors. However, analysts say these minor territorial gains are being purchased at an enormous human cost.
Observers describe the Pokrovsk offensive as emblematic of Russia’s broader battlefield strategy, high-intensity assaults driven by political deadlines rather than operational logic. Ukrainian officials argue that Moscow is sacrificing thousands of troops for minimal gains, demonstrating both the desperation and rigidity of its military command.
As of early November, Ukrainian forces continue to hold firm against relentless assaults, inflicting severe losses on Russian units. Despite heavy pressure, there is no evidence of a Ukrainian encirclement, only the mounting toll of Russia’s attempt to achieve symbolic victories through attrition.