Ukrainian units equipped with Leopard 2 tanks create a terrifying “hell” for Russians in Pokrovsk

Ukraine's new 155th Mechanized Brigade, equipped with Leopard 2 tanks, began to fall apart before reaching the front , and Ukraine is now handing over its forces to more experienced units defending Pokrovsk.

As Forbes columnist David Ax writes , defending Pokrovsk is now one of Ukraine's top priorities, and for the ground forces, that means constant close-quarters fighting in the towns and farmland surrounding Pokrovsk.

The 59th Brigade, which is defending Pokrovsk, could receive some companies and battalions from the disintegrated 155th Mechanized Brigade, which uses the heavier Leopard 2A4 tanks, the analyst said. The 155th Mechanized Brigade began arriving in Pokrovsk late last month, but it was already falling apart amid a leadership breakdown and widespread desertion of rank-and-file fighters.

"To save the 155th Mechanized Brigade, a unit that Ukraine, France and Poland spent months and millions of dollars training and equipping, Ukrainianleaders began sending its fresh but inexperienced subordinate units to exhausted but experienced brigades in the Pokrovsky sector," the analyst notes.

At the same time, according to Ukrainian military correspondent Yuriy Butusov, this is “the most reasonable way to benefit from a bad situation.”

He notes that in the old brigades "there is an acute shortage of people in the infantry, they cannot hold a wide strip because of this, but here there are experienced units, headquarters, command staff that can quickly train and make mobilized personnel combat-ready."

As Ax emphasizes, the Ukrainian brigades in Pokrovsk need all the help they can get, since the Russians in this section of the front may have a three-to-one advantage in troops and equipment.

"If the 59th Motorized Brigade and all the troops and equipment it can get from the 155th Mechanized Brigade fail to stop the Russians, the garrison at Pokrovsk could soon find itself partially surrounded. That would be an ominous development for the Ukrainians in what is becoming the first major battle of 2025," Ax concludes.
Earlier, Ukrainian serviceman Pavel Vyshebaba called on residents of Pokrovsk to evacuate , since Russian occupation forces have become more active near the city.

Also, the Operational-Strategic Group of Forces "Khortitsa" reported that the invaders are trying to encircle Pokrovsk through neighboring settlements.

According to the head of the Center for the Study of the Occupation, Petr Andryushchenko, the total number of Russian military personnel being transferred to strengthen the offensive on Pokrovsk is between 5 and 10 thousand.