Pokrovsk offensive order of battle

On 18 July 2024, Russian forces began an offensive with the goal of capturing the strategically important city of Pokrovsk.^[1][2][3] Pokrovsk serves as an important supply route and as a transportation hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.^[4][5][6][7] Ukrainian soldiers on this part of the front are mostly made of poorly trained conscripts who reportedly had little to no training.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]} Many Ukrainian conscripts had been reported to have deserted over the course of the offensive.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]} The increased level of desertion has resulted in Ukrainian commanders increasing the use of blocking detachments.^[25] One Ukrainian commander told CNN that Ukrainian soldiers around Pokrovsk have been given orders to shoot unidentified persons on sight.^[26]