Ukraine may lose Pokrovsk for same reason it lost Avdiivka – Portnikov

Current developments around Pokrovsk are directly linked to the lack of military support from the United States.

Journalist Vitaliy Portnikov said this live on Espreso TV.

“When we lost Avdiivka, it was because Republicans were blocking US military aid to Ukraine. Now, as we risk losing Pokrovsk, the previous aid package—thanks to President Joe Biden—has simply run out,” he said.

Portnikov says that for Vladimir Putin, capturing Pokrovsk would be a way to show his army is still advancing inside Ukraine.

“Many say Putin wants to strengthen his negotiating position with Donald Trump, but I don’t believe that’s the case. If he truly wanted to end the war, that would make sense. But he doesn’t. His goal is a drawn-out war. The only thing he expects from Trump is not to impose serious sanctions on Russia,” he explained.

According to Portnikov, Putin views every Ukrainian city as another step toward the complete occupation of Ukraine. Back in 2022, he tasked his army with reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions—something Russia has still failed to achieve.

“The fall of Pokrovsk wouldn’t fundamentally change the course of the war. Even if Russian troops enter the ruins of the city, it won’t mean they can quickly take other towns across the Donbas,” Portnikov said.

He added that if Moscow’s real goal were simply to consolidate control over the Donbas, it would have focused all its forces there from the start of the full-scale invasion.

“We remember how the Russian army advanced in several directions at once. That proves Putin’s ambition goes far beyond the Donbas. He wants to subjugate the entire country and install a puppet government in Kyiv,” he said.

Portnikov also warned that Russia’s expansionist ambitions extend well beyond eastern Ukraine.

He says that the end point of this expansion is not Kramatorsk or Sloviansk—it’s Uzhhorod. That’s why the loss of any city, including Pokrovsk, is painful but not decisive for the war.

"Pokrovsk would be the largest city Russia has seized since Bakhmut. “Avdiivka was smaller, but the reason for both losses is the same: lack of military aid. When we lost Avdiivka, Republicans were blocking support. Now, as we are losing Pokrovsk, the aid package provided by Biden has simply run out. There is no new one, and European assistance cannot replace the American. This is something that must be addressed by persuading Donald Trump," he said.

Portnikov concluded that even after Avdiivka fell, the war’s nature did not change — and neither will it after Pokrovsk.

“The tragedy lies in the loss of people and territory, but the war itself will remain protracted. It has already lasted longer than part of World War II on Soviet soil,” he said.