MAY 22! RUSSIA THROWS 100,000 TROOPS INTO BATTLE! POKROVSK BECOMES THE MAIN FRONTLINE HELL

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]The General Staff recorded 233 combat engagements on the front line over the past day. The highest number of assaults took place in the Pokrovska direction.

[00:00:09]There, our defenders repelled 35 enemy attacks.

[00:00:12]In this sector, the Russian command is concentrating its main forces, the largest grouping, 100,000 troops, and is increasing its activity. This was reported by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

[00:00:23]The enemy is also highly active in the neighboring Kostiantynivka direction, as well as in the area of Huliaipole. Over the past day, the defense forces managed to reduce the Kremlin's army by 910 occupiers.

[00:00:35]And more details from the front lines in our front line review.

[00:00:40]The fighters of the Steel Border struck the occupiers in the Sumy region. They blew up two cannons, three shelters, a warehouse, a vehicle, and a motorcycle.

[00:00:47]>> [music] >> The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade Magura set a record. In 5 hours, their pilots destroyed 50 drones of the Gerbera, Shahed, and Lancet types.

[00:00:56][music] The border guards of the Heart unit are suppressing enemy attempts to break through in the north of the Kharkiv region. The enemy is trying to advance in small assault groups along various sections of the defensive line, but they are unable to make any progress.

[00:01:08]>> [music] >> In the area of the village of Krasnopush, the Hatilo battalion eliminated Russian assault troops with bomber drone strikes, while the Crazy Cats group used FPV drones [music] to smash and burn the occupiers' shelters, driving them out into the open.

[00:01:20]Meanwhile, in the 92nd Assault Brigade, fighters are being prepared for real combat. First, they train using imitation airsoft weapons, then move on to clearing trenches with live ammunition. Today, we also fired live rounds from automatic weapons at drones.

[00:01:34]This is a really great exercise. And now, as they watch how the drone maneuvers, they try to track it, shoot it down, and they even start to gain confidence in themselves because they realize, "Aha, I know I can shoot down a drone here." There wasn't a single squad that didn't shoot down a drone. It's difficult, but overall, the guys managed to hit it. Well, against the drone, you need practice, practice, and more practice. A UAV operator from the 43rd Mechanized brigade hunted down a heavy flamethrower system, the Solntsepyok.

[00:02:01]The drops hit the equipment immediately after the salvo, and the fighters of the 66th mechanized brigade, right at the firing position in the Lyman area, took apart a Russian tank with FPV drones.

[00:02:11]After the fire, the enemy equipment was definitely rendered inoperable.

[00:02:15]Using an armored vehicle, a boat, and then another armored vehicle, the fighters of the 63rd mechanized brigade evacuated two wounded comrades from [music] the combat zone and rescued five residents of Lyman.

[00:02:26]Among them were a mother and her 7-year-old child. Such are these dark times.

[00:02:30]>> [music] >> We're carrying out the evacuation. The guys are working.

[00:02:35]Exhausted but unharmed after a long stay at their [music] positions, the soldiers of the motorized infantry battalion of the 30th mechanized brigade have returned.

[00:02:43]They managed not only to leave the dangerous area unnoticed, but also to capture two occupiers. In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy is trying to move resources, most often using motorcycles, cars, and IFVs, as well as attempting to infiltrate the interpositional space between our units. They strike at logistical routes with artillery, attack drones, and mine the roads. Despite the enemy's pressure, the Slobozhansky paratroopers from the 81st air assault brigade stopped the movement of enemy equipment, disabled Russian weapons, and destroyed the occupiers. Pilots from the Lutsk brigade are clearing the skies over Donetsk region of Russian junk.

[00:03:16]Every day, reconnaissance and strike UAVs try to locate the positions of Ukrainian defenders and terrorize the civilian population. In 1 week, three dozen of these drones ceased to exist.

[00:03:26]This amounts to financial losses for the Russian army of about 1 and 1/2 million dollars.

[00:03:31]And in this footage, the NRC operator skillfully evades a Pochun drone, which had already begun its attack flight, spotting it in time and successfully shooting it down.

[00:03:40]In the Pokrovsk direction, the pilots of Chervona Kalyna constantly keep watch for Russian FPV drones lying in ambush.

[00:03:46]To the untrained eye, they are hard to distinguish against the background of the concrete slabs of [music] destroyed buildings, while other drones at this time captured the last moments of the Russian occupiers' lives.

[00:03:56]A woman from a village near Pokrovsk walked several kilometers on foot under enemy FPV drone threat, accompanied by soldiers from the 25th Sich Brigade. She held on to her native land until the very end, but eventually asked the soldiers for help with evacuation. The paratroopers loaded her modest belongings [music] onto an APC and escorted the resident to a safer area.

[00:04:16]This is my family.

[00:04:17]>> [music] >> We thought they wouldn't come.

[00:04:19]The front is advancing. It used to be at 8, now it's at 6. [music] That means you might not be able to escape, but I don't want to live under the Russians.

[00:04:27]With faith in our soldiers, [music] Tetiana Lytvyn in Podbrobytsi, United News Marathon.

[00:04:33]And now we have the opportunity to learn about the situation in the Lyman direction. In this sector, Russian forces are actively trying to advance towards Sloviansk. Joining us in the studio is Serhiy Barsukov, commander of the anti-tank battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps.

[00:04:50]Mr. Serhiy, welcome. Glory to Ukraine.

[00:04:53]Glory to the heroes.

[00:04:54]First of all, tell us what you are raising funds for.

[00:04:58]And as always, when we talk with the military, I urge our viewers to join in and support them with your donations to strengthen their defense capability. And not just with a trivnia, if you point your phone cameras, you'll see there's a section where you can also send a message and share your warmth. So, join in supporting the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps.

[00:05:18]And tell us what are we raising funds for.

[00:05:22]We currently have an active fundraiser for fiber optic drones for our unit.

[00:05:26]That is, well, I want to immediately point out that there is absolutely no betrayal here. We do receive equipment, but you can never have too much of it.

[00:05:34]So, the more equipment we have, the more effectively we can strike the enemy.

[00:05:39]Mr. Serhiy, please tell us and share some information. What is the intensity of the fighting in your area of responsibility near Borova and Lyman?

[00:05:47]What tactics are the Russian forces using and in general have they changed over time or have they remained the same?

[00:05:55]The situation, let's say, is consistently tense. There is never a time when the enemy isn't trying to storm and advance. As for their tactics, well, they do change them from time to time, but overall, it's just a cycle.

[00:06:07]They keep repeating the same things.

[00:06:10]This includes infiltration, which happens almost constantly whenever the weather conditions allow. There are also regular assaults, including assaults using vehicles.

[00:06:20]This could involve heavy armored vehicles as well as quad bikes, motorcycles, things like that.

[00:06:26]That's why the enemy is constantly trying to advance.

[00:06:29]The Lyman direction is key on the Sloviansk axis as it opens the way to the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration.

[00:06:36]This was previously reported by the spokesperson of the Joint Forces Group, Victor Trigubov.

[00:06:41]Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War have also spoken about the strategic importance of Lyman, noting that the enemy could use it as a launching point for an offensive on Sloviansk.

[00:06:52]So, what threat does this pose to the city?

[00:06:55]How close have the Russians advanced to it?

[00:06:59]Well, look, they are constantly trying to advance. Right now, the line held by the Third Army Corps has remained unchanged for the past few months. It hasn't moved. In some areas, we are trying, well, in small steps, let's say, to move forward and improve our positions.

[00:07:14]Regarding the Lyman community, yes, you are absolutely right. For the Russians, large cities are a marker of success.

[00:07:21]Cities like Bakhmut, which they promoted, as well as Pokrovsk and Avdiivka. Accordingly, we understand that Kramatorsk and Sloviansk would also be markers of success, so they are trying, but so far without success.

[00:07:34]However, they are throwing a lot of forces at this, and the assaults are constantly ongoing. Currently, there is a problem in Lyman. It's the civilian population that does not want to evacuate and remains there. This both hinders the work of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and accordingly puts themselves in danger. Because we fully understand that the Russians are, let's say, an enemy that constantly commits war crimes against the civilian population. And that's why, unfortunately, no one there is safe.

[00:08:04]And are they using infiltration tactics in Lyman?

[00:08:07]Are there any facts that they are already appearing there? Why am I asking? You mentioned civilians. In Pokrovsk, for example, when the infiltration started about a year ago in the spring, by the way, they would disguise themselves and use civilians not only as hostages, but they also pretended to be civilians, which made things more difficult for the military as well. Do you have such a threat that there could be Russians among the civilians as well?

[00:08:33]At the moment, I don't have any such information.

[00:08:36]Well, I'll put it this way. Infiltration does occur, but in our third army corps, both surveillance and engagement are organized in echelons, let's say, in layers. Usually, infiltration points are overcome within two or three days. At the moment, I have no information about any enemy infiltration in Lyman.

[00:08:54]Mr. Serhiy, could you tell us what the enemy's troop grouping looks like in your sector?

[00:08:58]These are three armies, the 20th and 25th combined arms armies of the Russian Federation and the first tank army. So, as you can see, these are formidable and powerful military forces currently operating within our area of responsibility.

[00:09:13]Plus, from time to time, they are further reinforced by various specialized combat units, advanced UAV drone units, and so on.

[00:09:20]Let's put it this way, we consistently strive to counter their numbers with our own tactical quality and precision.

[00:09:26]Dear viewers, once again, I'd like to draw your attention. On the screen, you can see a QR code and a card number.

[00:09:32]Mr. Serhiy is telling us what is happening in the Lyman area in the Borivske direction.

[00:09:37]And I ask you to join in to support this unit. This is the third separate assault brigade. We are raising funds for fiber optic drones. There can never be too many of them, as Mr. Serhiy said. What the state supplies are but we need more because our enemy has superior resources both in manpower and in technology.

[00:09:55]But our unity and our dedication to our defenders is what truly makes a difference, so to speak, both in the air and on the battlefield.

[00:10:04]So, don't hesitate with your donations.

[00:10:05]Join the fight against the Russian Federation.

[00:10:09]If we're talking about the drone component, who has the advantage?

[00:10:12]Western analysts and publications say that it was precisely thanks to technology that the Ukrainian military managed to turn the situation around at the front this spring.

[00:10:21]In your sector, which specific technology has proven to be the most effective?

[00:10:26]Uh I wouldn't say that any particular technology is the most effective. If we take good weather, uh then the density of drones on both sides is very high.

[00:10:35]And to say that we have something that the enemy doesn't, well, uh at one time we did have an advantage in FPV. The enemy, uh bypassing sanctions, basically scaled up all of this and now has FPV, fiber optic drones, and heavy bombers.

[00:10:50]So, in other words, it's all the same.

[00:10:52]Our advantage, well, specifically when it comes to the third army corps is the system of deployment. Accordingly, all the assets work within a unified system.

[00:11:02]And when there is a system, there is no chaos. That is, there is a delivery system, a strike system, and a detection system.

[00:11:08]And when all of this works as a single organism that is constantly improving, and our commander of the third corps, Andriy Biletsky, is always tasking us to improve our operations and, wherever possible, to use fewer infantrymen and rely more on equipment. We do all of that.

[00:11:25]So, um I think that our system is really our big advantage. And to say that there is some kind of magic tool that can solve everything, well, unfortunately, no, there isn't such a thing.

[00:11:36]What does your aerial reconnaissance capture? Are there any signs of concentration, the pulling up of Russian troops, reserves, or preparations for possible mechanized assaults?

[00:11:48]Uh they have announced a summer offensive. Well, we'll see how that unfolds.

[00:11:53]We are ready. As we say here, we are prepared for any scenario. The last massive assault along uh seven directions within the cause area of responsibility was in March, and we managed to repel it quite successfully. At the moment, we are observing the movement of small groups.

[00:12:09]So, here, this is a constant tactic.

[00:12:11]There are always some movements taking place.

[00:12:14]Uh I can't tell you about any large buildup, and I don't think it's necessary to disclose whether there is one or not. We are controlling the situation and trying to act professionally and proactively in some cases. So, when the enemy announces something, we are ready and waiting.

[00:12:30]Regarding the enemy's use of Shaheds in the combat zone, are they increasing their numbers? Are they launching more of them? And how is the use of interceptor drones changing the situation?

[00:12:41]Our military forces, and by that, I mean both the individual brigades and the larger army corps, have successfully built our own comprehensive air defense system.

[00:12:51]This system operates directly from the front line, which means that enemy spotters, hostile FPV drones, and then further back, surveillance craft like the ZALA, and so on, are all being consistently shot down.

[00:13:07]Accordingly, yes, this brings its own effectiveness.

[00:13:10]When the enemy is unable to see, and when the enemy can't conduct reconnaissance, including deep reconnaissance, then our assets and our equipment that is there are much safer and more secure.

[00:13:22]At the moment, our air defense is working quite effectively, but the the enemy, once again, has a greater number of these systems.