On August 11, Russian forces infiltrated Ukrainian territory in the Pokrovsk sector, slipping through Ukraine’s defensive line near the town of Dobropillia. The current push has created a thin bulge—known in military terms as a “salient”—about 15 km deep, which is the deepest Russian incursion recorded in 2025. While this is a significant penetration, we do not assess Russia’s action as an operational “breakthrough”—the feared moment when an enemy smashes through defenses and exploits the gap to advance deep into the defender’s rear. However, the situation is fluid and carries major risks for Ukraine in the Donbas.
