The Red Army front collapsed and was surrounded, and the Russian forces are preparing an unprecedented strike with 2,000 drones.

Frontline Collapse: Pokrovsk Surrounded, Russia Prepares an Unprecedented Strike with 2,000 Drones

Author:

Ivan Prokhorov

As Ukrainian drones continued to attack the rear areas of our country from Volgograd to St. Petersburg, a dramatic scene was unfolding on the front lines - headquarters evacuations, the deployment of military police, and "thugs" serving the conscription committees. Western analysts warned that in the autumn this year, Russia would launch an unprecedented and massive strike against Ukraine, with thousands of drones in one night. However, Ukraine's defense system is already wobbling: urban warfare is taking place in Prokhorovsk, and the military police are pointing guns at demoralized soldiers, forcing them to hold their positions.

Drone Warfare: No Safe Place from Volgograd to St. Petersburg

On Sunday, July 27, Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale attack on multiple regions of Russia. Volgograd Oblast was the first to be hit, with nine drones attacking critical infrastructure. A substation in October town was damaged, causing railway transport to stall, and flights at the local airport were delayed.

But the real chaos happened in the Northern capital. Air defense forces shot down more than 10 drones over the Leningrad Oblast, and the debris of one of them injured a local woman - she was cut and hit. A three-story apartment building caught fire in a village in the Lomonosov District.

Pulkovo Airport was in chaos: 57 flights were delayed, and 22 planes were diverted to alternate airports. Check-in operations were suspended. The broadcast announced: "Therefore, we kindly ask passengers who have canceled their flights as well as those picking up and dropping off passengers to leave the terminal."

Swarm of 2,000 Drones: U.S. Analysts Warn Kyiv

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released a worrying prediction: In the autumn of 2025, Russia may launch an unprecedented strike against Ukraine - up to 2,000 drones in one night. Experts at this Washington-based analysis center pointed out that Russia's defense industry production capacity is rapidly increasing.

"The increase in missile and drone production may allow Russia to continue expanding its attacks on Ukraine in the autumn of 2025," the analysts warned. Recent strikes have already shown an increased concentration of missiles in each salvo.

ISW emphasized the crucial role of Western air defense systems, especially the U.S. "Patriot" system, which can effectively intercept Russian ballistic missiles. If Ukraine does not significantly strengthen its air defense capabilities, it will be difficult for the country to withstand the attack of thousands of "flying killers."

Pokrovsk: Headquarters Evacuated, City Surrounded

Turkish sources reported an event considered a "black mark" in the military field - the Ukrainian group headquarters has evacuated from Pokrovsk. This is a standard signal that the city is about to fall.

Pokrovsk

Map of the battle. Source: Social network

Russian forces have adopted unconventional tactics: instead of launching a large-scale offensive, they have dispersed small groups to infiltrate behind the Ukrainian armed forces, gathering for future attacks.

The encirclement is tightening from two directions: from the southwest through Zvezdny (a Ukrainian source admitted that it has been completely lost), and from the northeast through Rodinskoye. The main road controlled by Ukraine remains the road to Pavlograd, but this road is also being swept by Russian drones.

Ukrainian Armed Forces evacuating the city. Photo: Social network

According to Western journalists, Russian forces have gathered approximately 111,000 troops around Prokhorovsk. The Ukrainian forces are facing serious personnel shortages, which also explains why the defense is so weak, allowing Russian forces to penetrate into the city.

Hot Front: Fighting Everywhere

Zaporozhye front: fighting in the Stepanovka and Pravyn regions is extremely intense. There are reports that Russian forces have approached the suburbs of Stepanovka.

Video screenshot of nearby combat

Donetsk front: The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced the capture of a major support point - Zeleneve village. Malievka and Yablovnoye have also been liberated.

Chasovyyar: Russian forces are advancing towards the Maysko settlement in the northwest of the city. Urban warfare continues within Chasovyyar city.

Kupiansk direction: Russian armed forces have expanded their control area around Moskovka, cutting off supplies to Kupiansk. Fierce fighting is taking place in the Myrnoye and Meloveye areas.

Sumy direction: The situation in Yunakove is assessed as "stable tension", and fighting continues intensely in the Besarabovka region.

"Thugs" and Military Police: Ukraine's Army Fighting Amongst Itself

Unsettling news is circulating in Ukrainian cities, claiming that the conscription committees have adopted a new tactic - using unofficial "thug" groups to capture conscripts. These "headhunters" receive cash rewards of 3 to 5 thousand hryvnias for each man they catch, plus a temporary reprieve from conscription.

Conscription committee raids on the streets of Ukrainian cities. Video: Social network

These groups operate secretly: without uniforms, driving civilian vehicles, looking like ordinary pedestrians. Ironical enough, the use of "thugs" by Yanukovych was one of the main accusations during the Euromaidan period.

But more shocking is that Ukrainian military bloggers have admitted - there are military police operating on the front lines. These units have received orders to shoot at their own soldiers who refuse to attack or retreat from their positions. What used to be dismissed as "Russian propaganda" is now openly admitted as an "extreme measure to maintain discipline."

The system starts to devour itself: the people who execute the order to arrest "escapers" today may themselves be sent to the front tomorrow.

"July Storm": Russia Demonstrates Suicide Sea Drones

From the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, the Russian Navy conducted a large-scale "July Storm" exercise. The biggest highlight was the Baltic Fleet's official use of suicide sea drones. From the footage released, the explosion power is enormous, and the warheads carried by the drones are quite significant.

Sea drone test footage. Screenshot: Social network

The choice of demonstrating sea drones in the Baltic Sea is no coincidence - this is the most intense sea area of confrontation between Russia and NATO countries. Russia deliberately demonstrated its new capabilities in a place where every ship is monitored by dozens of NATO radars.

All fleets participated in the exercises: the Pacific Fleet destroyed cluster targets in the Japan Sea, the Baltic Fleet used the "Tor-M2" air defense missile system to practice air defense, the Caspian Fleet conducted artillery fire, and the Northern Fleet's naval aviation trained to intercept long-range drones.

What Are the Consequences?

The war is entering a new phase. If ISW's predictions come true, thousands of Russian drones will cover the sky over Ukraine this autumn. However, Ukraine's defense system has already shown signs of collapse: headquarters evacuation, military police deployment, and using "thugs" instead of volunteers... Prokhorovsk is about to fall, which means the key logistics hub in Donbas will be lost. Historical lessons tell us: when an army begins to open fire on its own people, its end is near.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7531706530199159337/

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