Pokrovsk offensive order of battle

On 18 July 2024, Russian forces began an offensive with the goal of capturing the strategically important city of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk serves as an important supply route and as a transportation hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian soldiers on this part of the front are mostly made of poorly trained conscripts who reportedly had little to no training. Many Ukrainian conscripts had been reported to have deserted over the course of the offensive. The increased level of desertion has resulted in Ukrainian commanders increasing the use of blocking detachments. One Ukrainian commander told CNN that Ukrainian soldiers around Pokrovsk have been given orders to shoot unidentified persons on sight.