(POKROVSK, DONETSK) – Despite assertions from the Kremlin at the end of 2025 regarding the total capture of the fortress city of Pokrovsk, recent tactical developments on the ground indicate that Ukrainian forces maintain a significant presence and continue to inflict heavy losses on the invaders. On 6 January 2026, a meticulously planned operation by Ukrainian defenders resulted in a successful HIMARS strike against a Russian military convoy, further debunking claims made by the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, and his military command.
The operation was spearheaded by the Skelya Regiment, a specialized unit formerly known as the SKALA Regiment. While primarily recognized for high level reconnaissance, the regiment has evolved into a multi disciplinary force that integrates drone technology with tank and artillery units.
A reconnaissance drone operated by the Skalya Regiment identified a Russian convoy moving along a snow dusted road toward the Pokrovsk front lines. The coordination between aerial surveillance and precision artillery allowed Ukrainian units to deploy a single High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rocket with devastating accuracy.
Visual evidence of the strike, released by Militarnyi, confirms the destruction of the convoy. The footage illustrates a single precision hit on a group of Russian vehicles approximately seven kilometres from the line of contact, specifically between the settlements of Novopavlivka and Chynushyne.
Reports indicate that at least 10 Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in the blast, and at least one all terrain vehicle was incinerated. The location of the strike suggests that Russian forces were operating under the false assumption that the area was secure, only to be met by Ukrainian fire in what was described as a rear area.