Pokrovsk Holds - Latest Update - Can Russia Even Call This a Victory?

2025-11-13 | Silicon Wafers 054 | DAILY UPDATES | In today’s episode we turn our focus to the Eastern front and try to tease out the truth from the tangled narratives emerging from the battle for Pokrovsk. This is a grinding struggle that seems to be entering its final stages, but the ever-shifting balance of the fight seems to be as much about controlling the narrative as it is about occupying territory. We’re zeroing in on the contested city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast — still under Ukrainian control, but also still under relentless Russian pressure — and we’ll cover the neglected frontline, in the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia Oblast, which is simultaneously seeing a push by Moscow’s forces.These two theatres matter: because while all eyes are drawn to Pokrovsk, where Russia hopes to punch a breakthrough and Ukraine hopes to hold the line, Moscow is quietly advancing elsewhere, threatening to exploit the distraction. What, then, counts as “victory” for Russia when so much manpower and materiel is being expended to lay claim to a city that has essentially been reduced to rubble? In a way of attrition, can one side claim any kind of victory, when the price of defence is so high and the cost of attack so monstrously and irrationally large? ----------SOURCES: “Pokrovsk is not captured but remains Russia’s main offensive target, Syrskyi says”, Kyiv Independent, 13 Nov 2025“Analysis: With all eyes on Pokrovsk, Russia drives forward in Zaporizhzhia Oblast”, Kyiv Independent, 12 Nov 2025“Ukraine withdraws from another settlement in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ongoing Russian offensive”, Kyiv Independent, 11 Nov 2025“Ukrainian forces pull back under fierce Russian pressure in Zaporizhzhia”, Al Jazeera, 12 Nov 2025“The situation is quite difficult — Russia captures 3 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ‘intense fighting’”, Kyiv Independent, 11 Nov 2025“War in Ukraine: Battle for Pokrovsk enters final phase”, Le Monde, 6 Nov 2025“Russia makes gains in southern Ukraine as it expands front-line attacks”, Associated Press, 12 Nov 2025“Ukraine deploys special forces to Pokrovsk in effort to hold key city”, The Guardian, 2 Nov 2025“Ukraine’s top general denies encirclement claims in battle for Pokrovsk”, The Moscow Times, 13 Nov 2025“Ukraine withdraws from positions near five settlements in Zaporizhzhia region”, Ukrinform, 11 Nov 2025----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------