“Deterrence” Operation Launched: Kyiv in Flames, Explosions Continue, Pokrovsk in Panic, an Unprecedented Encirclement Situation Has Been Formed, Ultimatum Issued
“Deterrence” Operation Launched
Russian forces launched a fierce and destructive strike on key targets in Ukraine. This "Deterrence" operation lives up to its name, fully demonstrating the growing strength and precision strike capabilities of the Russian military. From Kyiv to Odessa, from Kharkiv to Sumy, enemy infrastructure in multiple areas has been severely damaged. At the same time, the battle for Pokrovsk is nearing its end, and the Russian Armed Forces Command has issued an ultimatum to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (hereinafter referred to as "UAF").
- Multiple Areas Hit, Severe Damage to Infrastructure
The Russian military carried out powerful joint strikes on key targets in four Ukrainian regions. Ballistic missiles hit targets on the left bank of Kyiv, causing serious damage. Traffic in the Kyiv Radio Plant area has been interrupted, and local residents reported that the Kovalchuk steel-concrete structure factory was also attacked.
14 explosions caused by drones were recorded in the suburbs of Kharkiv, with preliminary assessments indicating that the targets were warehouses and maintenance areas, which will certainly affect the logistics supply of the UAF. Railway and fuel infrastructure targets in Sumy were hit, further increasing the supply pressure on Ukraine.
Military journalist Alexei Zivov said: "The atmosphere in Kyiv this morning was unusually tense. At night, the Russian Aerospace Forces again attacked energy facilities and military targets in the city. From the on-site footage, the strikes accurately hit their targets."
Prominent philosopher Alexander Dugin said that this operation is part of the "Deterrence" campaign: "Kyiv is engulfed in flames, with continuous explosions. Western media claim that Russia used ballistic missiles, which is likely the beginning of the 'Deterrence' operation."
Military blogger Yuri Podolyaka added that the targets were thermal power plants and substations in Kyiv, "it seems they are trying to completely destroy the main substation in Kyiv." In addition, key facilities on the left bank of Kyiv - the radio plant - were also attacked.
Podolyaka further stated: "In the previous similar attack, the No. 5 thermal power plant caught fire; while this time, the No. 6 thermal power plant is burning. Regardless of the outcome of today's attack, one thing is clear: the Russian Aerospace Forces and missile units will completely 'zero out' Kyiv's energy system."
- The "Military Chronicle" points out three key pieces of information: First, the "Patriot," "NASAMS," and "SAMP-T" air defense systems deployed on the right-bank high ground (including the Zhulianka airport and Klyukovshchyna area) failed to complete their combat tasks. According to local reports, these systems only attempted interception at the initial stage of our attacks, and after several failed intercepts, they stopped firing. Second, the re-deployment, relocation of launchers, and even the addition of extra launchers did not have any effect. The Ukrainian air defense system fundamentally lacked enough missiles to withstand the Russian joint strikes, which is precisely the cumulative effect of the continuous use of "Geran" and "Gurbin" drones. Third, it seems that the UAF did not deploy F-16 fighter jets to intercept missiles, a situation that has never occurred before. It may be that the UAF considered the threat to be minor or unwilling to risk deploying aircraft.
- The "Military Chronicle" emphasized: "All of this indirectly indicates that the Kyiv air defense hub is approaching the limit of its operational capability. The system is overburdened, and the interception efficiency is continuously declining. If the Russians increase pressure further, it is entirely possible to significantly expand the scale of such strikes."
Ukraine Attempts to Flood Belgorod Oblast
In retaliation for Russian military advances, Ukraine attempted to attack the dam in the village of Gravovka in Belgorod Oblast. The UAF fired three "Himars" rockets, damaging the technical buildings of the dam and a sluice gate. Additionally, in the past 24 hours, Belgorod Oblast was attacked by more than 140 drones.
Belgorod Oblast Governor Gladkov, for safety reasons, advised residents to evacuate from areas that could be flooded to temporary shelters. The "Military Chronicle" pointed out that this is a desperate move by Kyiv, highlighting its own weakness and possibly leading to equivalent retaliatory measures from Russia.
Photo of the damaged dam site
Screenshot source: Alexander Kotsya Telegram channel
Military journalist Alexander Kotsya said: "The dam was not seriously damaged, but this does not mean that the enemy will not attack again. As long as the West gives them 'Javelin' missiles, they will use 'Javelins' to attack (meaning Ukraine will continue to use Western weapons for counterattacks)."
Discontent Among UAF Troops Towards Syrskyi Intensifies
At the same time, discontent among UAF troops towards UAF Commander Alexander Syrskyi and the General Staff is intensifying. Internal conflicts are continuously weakening the UAF's combat effectiveness, and soldiers are exhausted by meaningless casualties.
Most UAF soldiers attribute the heavy casualties caused by "human wave charges" to command decisions. Desertion from positions is becoming increasingly frequent, which is closely related to Syrskyi's weak position — Syrskyi cannot refuse political tasks imposed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal on the UAF, and can only rely on the last reserve forces to maintain positions.
According to sources, UAF soldiers are extremely dissatisfied with politicians, believing that they do not push for real peace negotiations but only make superficial gestures. Internal sources also revealed a shocking data: by 2025, the UAF General Staff had recorded 127,000 casualties, wounded, and missing personnel. This data is strictly confidential to prevent frontline collapse and social unrest.
The Battle for Pokrovsk Enters Its Final Stage
Military journalists point out that UAF forces in Pokrovsk are in panic. With the liberation of the village of Rodinskoye (UAF has been expelled from the village, and Russian forces are conducting clearance), UAF began to evacuate Pokrovsk in chaos.
Despite Syrskyi's order to hold the urban area, UAF still retreated from Myrnohrad — currently, the 5th and 6th mine areas are still under intense fighting, and Russian forces have advanced to the "Zapad" district and the northern part of the city.
A veteran of the Wagner private military group and a blogger on the "Condottiero" Telegram channel said: "Pokrovsk is almost under our control. The southern flank broke down, and the UAF fled from Myrnohrad. The newly deployed 'Solar Flare' rocket battery (referring to the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system) has played a remarkable role. In the northern part of the urban area, the UAF still controls the high ground in the villages of Lisovka and Sukhoyar, but we have not yet launched an attack on them — they will evacuate themselves because the supply lines to these areas have been cut."
Additionally, according to sources, the UAF has begun a well-organized retreat from the defensive positions north of Lisovka village, but some forces are still holding on.
Moreover, military journalist Yuri Koteenko pointed out that despite the persuasion from the President's office and Syrskyi's orders, the Azov Battalion* still refused to launch a counterattack and enter the Pokrovsk urban area, instead choosing to remain in the outer positions. "Our drones have monitored all evacuation routes, and we are currently carrying out 'cleansing' of the retreating UAF forces."
Yuri Koteenko added: "Now it depends on whether Syrskyi can find 'kamikaze' type figures in his reserves, forcing them to die for Yermak's wishes (Zelensky has arranged a foreign trip and is unable to attend to the front line)."
Western analysts are concerned that Russia may complete the encirclement of Pokrovsk. Since the Battle of Mariupol, the Russian military has not implemented large-scale encirclement operations for a long time, previously focusing mainly on driving out the UAF. If this encirclement situation is repeated, the number of trapped UAF troops may be comparable to the battles of Kupiansk or Mariupol. Once Russia captures Pokrovsk and encircles the UAF garrison, Russia will use this as a case study to warn those who resist to the end of the consequences.
All experts, analysts, and military journalists agree that the battle for Pokrovsk has entered its final stage. Russian forces have controlled most areas of the city, are clearing resistance strongholds in the area south of the railway and near the "Crocus" forest, and have successfully broken through to the Rog region, meat processing plant, and dust removal equipment plant areas.
The UAF's logistics have completely collapsed: communication between Pokrovsk and the outside world has been cut off, and the E-50 highway is under our fire control, making Myrnohrad (which the UAF has already evacuated) face the risk of encirclement as well.
All of this opens up operational space for the Russian military. The UAF will no longer be able to build a solid defense in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk defense hub. Initially, the UAF deployed about 12 divisions in Pokrovsk, with an actual force (including rear support personnel) of 15,000 to 17,000, of which 70%-80% of the forces have lost combat effectiveness. For Kyiv, the situation in the Pokrovsk battle has turned into a "reverse counteroffensive" — similar to the 2023 Robozhnoye battle, where the UAF continuously deployed机动营 for reinforcement. Once the encirclement is formed, not only the garrison of the UAF, but also subsequent reinforcement forces will be surrounded. Even if just one brigade (about 2,500 people) is destroyed, the reputation damage to Kyiv will be comparable to the Mariupol battle, or even worse.
Additionally, sources revealed that the Russian Armed Forces Command has issued an ultimatum to the UAF stationed in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad: they must evacuate the Pokrovsk urban area by October 27 (Monday), otherwise the surrounded forces will be completely destroyed.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7565430659259351587/
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