Ukraine battle that changed war forever: See how two-year fight for Pokrovsk unfolded in unprecedented detail with exclusive early access to Mail’s Battle Board series

Russian and Ukrainian forces fought for two years over Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for Kyiv’s troops in the eastern Donbas. The battle illustrates how drone surveillance has reshaped the battlefield: forces that once sought to concentrate for a breakthrough now rely more on small units that can avoid detection.

The fighting began with armoured assaults and evolved into lone soldiers moving under skies crowded with drones. The article describes a cycle of military innovation and counter-innovation, and presents the battle as a case study in how future warfare may be fought.