Ukrainian marines cleared about 6 km² near Pokrovsk without losses. The Russians they faced got a can of meat a week

In a recent clearing operation near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian marines managed to clear approximately 6 square kilometers of territory without any losses, according to Deputy Commander Karyi of the 40th Separate Marine Brigade. The operation, named "Audit," took place over about a month, as reported by Army Inform on 12 October.

The Defense Ministry’s news agency described the Russian infantry captured during the operation as being barely trained, hungry, and unwilling to fight. Russia's initial capture of Pokrovsk involved sending small groups of infantry into the city, one after another. However, beyond the city, Russian advances remained limited.

ISW assessed on 25 February that the capture of Pokrovsk did not result in any operationally significant gains for Russia. The Ukrainian operation aimed to stop the infiltration of Russian troops, as each cleared stretch eliminated a route that Russia had used to seize the city.

During the operation, the marines managed to gather a significant amount of intelligence, and Karyi assured that the enemy would face more surprises in the future. Earlier, the brigade had announced a similar operation on 26 September, stating that they had cleared 5 square kilometers and captured two Russian soldiers. They also mentioned stopping the flow of Russian infiltration on that specific stretch near Pokrovsk.

The deputy commander emphasized that the Russian recruits were untrained, having spent a month on paperwork and transfers before engaging in battle. They would then walk to their positions for one or two weeks before combat. The marines described the Russian soldiers as typically consisting of two prisoners, highlighting the lack of proper training and preparation among them.