A senior Ukrainian military commander has made a grave accusation against Russian forces, stating they are systematically disguising themselves as civilians to gain tactical advantages in the besieged eastern town of Pokrovsk.
A Tactical Shift to Sabotage
The commander of Ukraine's 68th Jaeger Brigade, who uses the call sign 'Liutyi', told national broadcaster Suspilne that Russian operations in the area have deviated from conventional warfare. He described their methods as resembling those of 'sabotage and reconnaissance' groups rather than standard military units.
Liutyi identified the use of civilian clothing as the most challenging aspect of this new tactic. 'The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians', he stated, confirming that Russian troops have been under orders to change out of their uniforms for some time. 'Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units'.
Exploiting Weather and Avoiding Heavy Equipment
The Ukrainian commander detailed how Russian forces are capitalising on poor weather to move through the city with greater ease. Rain and fog severely hamper the effectiveness of the Ukrainian drones, which are a cornerstone of their reconnaissance and defensive efforts.
Furthermore, Moscow's troops have largely stopped deploying large, heavy equipment in concentrated assaults. A Russian tank was struck by the 68th Brigade on 19 November as it approached Pokrovsk, illustrating the vulnerability of such vehicles. Liutyi explained that the Russians have abandoned attempts to send in 16-20 units of equipment simultaneously because 'it is difficult to hide equipment from us. We will find it anyway and burn it'.
Logistical Challenges and a Lethal 'Killzone'
The situation on the ground remains extremely difficult for Ukrainian defenders. Russian forces have established a heavily fortified area around Pokrovsk, creating what Liutyi termed a 'killzone' stretching up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the city to the frontline.
This area is saturated with enemy drone crews, making vehicle movement perilous. 'The intensity of enemy drone strikes is so great that sometimes it is simply impossible to drive in', the commander said, forcing Ukrainian soldiers to traverse this dangerous territory on foot.
The act of using a civilian disguise to launch attacks, known in international law as perfidy, is typically regarded as a war crime. This development in Pokrovsk, which Russian troops entered in recent weeks after over a year of fierce fighting, marks a significant and troubling escalation in the tactics employed in the conflict.
