Pishchane has been liberated – overview of situation near Pokrovsk
The village of Pishchane, located 5 km south of Pokrovsk, was liberated from the enemy as a result of fighting between February 2 and 6, during which more than 80 Russian occupiers from the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces were eliminated. We also suffered losses, but they are significantly lower than those of the Russians.
The first to storm the village were the soldiers of the 425th SAR (Separate Assault Regiment) "Skala." (Rock). After the troops of the 425th Assault Regiment destroyed and seized the enemy's key strongholds, soldiers of the 210th Battalion of the 120th TDF (Territorial Defense Forces) Brigade and the 32nd Mechanized Brigade entered the village to support them, killing the enemy and securing the success.
On the outskirts of the village, separate enemy groups are still being eliminated as they attempt to regain their positions.
The 425th Assault Regiment serves as the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the counterattack was carried out on his orders.
Overall command was exercised by the commander of the OTG (Operational-Tactical Group) "Donetsk," O. Tarnavskyi, and the commander of the TG (tactical group) "Pokrovsk," O. Bakulin.
However, it is now essential to assess all worthy participants of the operation with a cool head, without excessive euphoria, and to identify the factors that ensured success, as well as the existing challenges in this sector of defense.
The 425th Assault Regiment has liberated the village of Pishchane not for the first time, but for the fourth (4) time in the last two months! Previously, separate Russian assault groups had entered the village, Skala to come in and mop-up them, then another unit would be stationed in the village to defend it, and due to obvious problems in organisation and command, these units would withdraw, they could not be reinforced, and the enemy would reoccupy the village. One of the forest plantations near Pishchane was cleared by the 425th SAR 14 (fourteen) times.
The fourth assault on Pishchane was a complex operation, as Russian forces had established strong defensive positions, entrenched themselves, and put up fierce resistance.
The key factor in the operation was not the number of troops, but the quality of organization, preparation, and determination of the Ukrainian infantry and the headquarters of 425th SAR. It was also the significant changes made on the eve of the operation in the planning, management and interaction of UAVs at the level of the OTG and TG.
Firstly, the commander of the 425th Separate Special Forces, Yurii Harkavyi, received reasonable support and some freedom in planning from the commanders of the OTG and TG, which allowed him to prepare assault groups from ordinary mobilised soldiers and quickly execute the attack plan.
Secondly, OTG commander O. Tarnavskyi brought in experts to improve the organization and use of UAVs and established a Joint Fire Support Center, appointing the commander of the 55th Artillery Brigade, S. Zhuk, to lead it. Additionally, K. Bondarenko, one of the commanders of the SSFU (Separate Special Forces Unit) "Lazar," was assigned to oversee UAV operations—meaning that command entrusted the deployment of key strike assets to truly competent and highly motivated officers.
Thirdly, by order of Syrskyi, high-quality and well-motivated UAV units with skilled commanders and operators were concentrated to support the troops in Pishchane, drawn from the ranks of:
- 414th Brigade "Magyar’s Birds" of the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine);
- "Brodiaha" ("Vagabonds") unit of the 411th Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- 412th Nemesis Regiment of the AFU;
- Special Operations Center "A" of SSU (Security Service of Ukraine);
- "Charlie" unit of the 190th Training Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- 425th Assault Regiment "Skala";
- 32nd Mechanized Brigade;
- Special unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine;
- 55th Artillery Brigade;
- Lazarus, the National Guard's SSFU.
The enemy has felt the impact of qualitative improvements in the planning and deployment of UAVs, and this is a crucial experience that must be scaled to other frontline areas. This was not a random success driven by sheer determination—it was a systematic and well-coordinated effort that deserves recognition.
At Pishchane, an echeloned drone front and a coordinated UAV system were established, enabling the successful completion of the mission despite intense Russian drone activity and heavy artillery strikes. All of this was achieved in a short time, driven by the enthusiasm and dedication of UAV unit commanders, who found common ground, worked in sync, and relentlessly supported our heroic infantry—without sleep or rest. And thanks to their efforts, the well-trained and well-equipped infantry was able to carry out the most challenging task with outstanding success.
