Ukraine TAKES OUT Russian Brigade Commander… Then TOTAL CHAOS Erupts

Ukraine’s forces eliminated the commander of Russia’s 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade in a precision strike near Klishchiivka on August 11, killing six senior staff in total. The blow comes as Russia pushes a massive offensive in Pokrovsk, with over 111,000 troops and 35 attacks in one day.

Despite heavy losses — including over 100 troops killed or wounded in Pokrovsk — Russia persists with small-group infiltration tactics. The fighting coincides with high-stakes diplomacy ahead of the August 15 Alaska 2025 Russia–US Summit, where Putin and Trump are expected to meet under growing international pressure for a ceasefire.

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Ukraine recently scored a serious hit against 
Russia, taking out a top brigade commander in Donetsk and dealing another big blow to the 
Kremlin’s military leadership in the process. In the days that followed, total chaos 
has broken out across the area, with the Russians appearing increasingly desperate, 
clueless, and confused in their actions. Here’s a closer look at what happened.
In a Telegram post on August 11, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed 
that it had carried out a successful front line strike on a Russian command post. Its target 
was the 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade: “Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to destroy 
command posts of Russian troops. The latest target was the command post of the 85th 
Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces in the temporarily 
controlled territory of Donetsk region. According to preliminary data, as a result of a 
strike with a high-precision weapon, the brigade commander with the call sign Dnepr and five 
members of the operational staff were eliminated. More detailed information on the consequences 
of the strike is being clarified.” While the post didn’t state exactly where this 
happened, live and mostly accurate maps of the conflict show that the 85th Brigade is currently 
stationed near Klishchiivka, a small, abandoned settlement, controlled by the Russians and right 
on the front lines, just a short distance east of the city of Kostiantynivka, which is believed 
to be one of the Russians’ next top targets. Taking out any commanding officer is always a 
big win for Ukraine, as it can have numerous knock-on effects on the units left behind.
Without cool heads and clear leadership to guide them, troops are more likely to make mistakes 
or act rashly. Younger and less experienced soldiers typically end up taking over leadership 
duties, but they may lack the authority and acumen of those that came before them. And with 
Russia having already lost so many soldiers and officers at all levels over the course of this 
war, it doesn’t always have ideal replacements standing by to fill empty, important roles.
The death of the brigade commander also comes at a critical time for the Kremlin, right 
in the middle of its large-scale summer offensive. The country is committing colossal 
amounts of troops and resources to this effort, launching record-level drone strikes on 
Ukrainian towns and cities while also conducting near-constant front line assaults in a bid to 
capture as much territory as it possibly can. Yet Russia still doesn’t have a whole 
lot to show for its efforts so far. It continues to lose staggering amounts of troops 
and pieces of equipment, it continues to suffer the effects of carefully planned and perfectly 
executed Ukrainian strikes along the front and deeper into its territory, and it continues 
to gain only the smallest spots of ground at a veritable snail’s pace in most areas.
Now, having struggled to make gains and suffered serious attacks on their 
commanders and command posts, Russia’s front line forces seem to be slipping 
into a state of chaos, particularly in the area around the Donetsk city of Pokrovsk, not far 
from where Brigade Commander Dnepr was taken out. Pokrovsk is one of the larger cities in 
the Donetsk region, once home to more than 60,000 people before the war began.
It’s a vital target for Ukraine to hold onto and Russia to capture, since it’s an 
important transport hub for the region, with numerous road and rail links extending 
across Donetsk to other towns and cities. Ukraine has used those links to transport supplies 
across the area to other places that are under heavy assault, like Kostiantynivka and Chasiv 
Yar, which has since fallen to the Russians. Nicknamed “the gateway to Donetsk” in Russian 
media, the capture of Pokrovsk would give Russian forces a powerful platform to fortify 
and utilize for further attacks across the region towards two more large cities that are still under 
Ukraine’s control for now – namely Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Controlling Pokrovsk would also 
help Russia disrupt Ukrainian logistics, limit the flow of supplies along the eastern 
front, and perhaps even provide a springboard for attacks into the Dnipropetrovsk region.
That’s why, for several weeks now, Russia has been pouring resources into its Pokrovsk 
offensive, with an estimated 111,000 soldiers in the area, according to Ukraine’s 
Commander in Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. And while the Kremlin has made some small gains, 
capturing various surrounding settlements and villages, it has thus far failed to overwhelm 
Ukraine’s defending forces in the city itself. But pressure is building, and Russia is 
throwing everything it has at the city. In an update on operations from August 11, the 
spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalev, said:
“In the Pokrovsk sector, the enemy has made 35 attempts to push back our units.
The enemy is using its numerical superiority and, losing personnel on a large scale, is 
trying to infiltrate in small groups through the first line of our positions. 
By decision of the Commander-in-Chief, additional forces and resources have been 
allocated to detect and destroy enemy sabotage groups penetrating beyond the defensive line. “
35 attempts. That is a much higher number than almost anywhere else along the front line. 
For comparison, in the same time frame, there were just 13 attacks in the Kursk area, 
six in the Southern-Slobozhanske direction, six more in the Kupyansk area, 
and four in and around Siversk. The evidence is clear: Russia is desperate 
to take Pokrovsk, no matter the cost, but is persisting with the bizarre and chaotic strategy 
of using small group assaults here and there in the hopes of catching the Ukrainians off-guard and 
somehow sneaking through to claim key territory. It’s not working.
As the General Staff report notes: “According to preliminary estimates, in this 
direction, our soldiers eliminated 64 and wounded 38 occupiers, destroyed one unit of automotive 
equipment, 21 UAVs, one communication antenna, and one motorcycle; they also damaged one 
cannon and two motorcycles of the invaders.” That’s more than 100 Russian 
troops either killed or injured, and numerous pieces of hardware wiped out.
But still, the Kremlin continues to throw more soldiers into the meat grinder.
Often, these soldiers are given zero armor support, since Russia doesn’t want to risk 
losing more of its tanks and armored vehicles, having already seen thousands of them wiped 
out by Ukraine’s missiles, mines, and drones. The soldiers therefore have to attempt to 
infiltrate a fortified city on foot or riding the likes of motorcycles and quad bikes, without 
any real cover or protection. It’s no surprise, then, that so many of them are wiped 
out well before they enter the city. Those that do manage to make it in are 
having to resort to increasingly odd tactics to try to survive.
Just recently, for example, reports emerged of two Russian soldiers wearing 
civilian clothing and hiding out in a house in downtown Pokrovsk. An image of the two was 
shared in a Ukrainian group chat, alongside the caption: “Watch out, these are Russians.”
This is an increasingly common tactic, according to Ukrainian Deputy Commander, Illia Petryna, 
who said in an interview with The Telegraph: “We witnessed Russians change from 
their military clothes, even changing into our uniforms. We find Russian military 
clothes in areas where we know they were.” Petryna added that his troops have also 
intercepted Russian radio communications and overheard the enemy talking 
about using disguises to blend in. It’s a strange strategy, but it shows how 
the Kremlin is ready to try absolutely anything to take Pokrovsk, once and for all.
And after seeing so many of their small assaults prove to be unsuccessful, it appears that some of 
the remaining Russian commanders in the area may have finally decided to try something different.
Live maps of the conflict show an unusual and unexpected movement of Russian forces 
north of Pokrovsk. Units like the 5th, 9th, 110th, and 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle 
Brigades are currently sitting in and around small settlements like Fedorivka and Zatyshok.
Some units are continuing north, while others appear to be concentrating their efforts 
westward, towards the city of Dobropillia. Elements from the four aforementioned brigades 
have captured several settlements east of the city over the last couple of weeks and numerous 
media sources have reported a Russian breakthrough in the area. This could be Russia’s way of 
effectively encircling Pokrovsk, cutting off supply lines to the Ukrainian forces in the area, 
and preventing any reinforcements from arriving, before moving in to take the city.
However, once more, it appears that Russia’s tactics have fallen flat.
While the country’s forces have captured some small settlements, their attempts to take 
Dobropillia have, so far, proven unsuccessful. And as mixed reports emerge from the area, 
Ukrainian Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Trehubov has set the record straight in a Telegram 
post on the Armed Forces StratCom channel: “Over the past 24 hours, information 
has appeared on various media about an alleged breakthrough by Russian troops on 
one of the front lines in eastern Ukraine. This information is not reliable 
and does not reflect real facts. As is known, the Russians use the tactic of 
infiltration by small groups past the first line of defense, losing a lot of personnel, 
which happened near Dobropillia. A small enemy group bypassed Ukrainian positions and tried 
to hide in our rear, but the Defense Forces are repelling such attempts. A similar situation 
occurred a week ago with the passage of a small sabotage and reconnaissance group in Pokrovsk, 
which did not end successfully for the enemy.” Whether it’s in Dobropillia or Pokrovsk, 
Russians continue to send in these small and relatively weak assault squads, 
time after time, to no great effect. They seem to be hoping that they can eventually 
sneak enough soldiers through, disguise them as locals or even Ukrainian soldiers, and then 
launch some sort of surprise strike from within. But Ukraine appears to be well aware of 
the enemy’s plans and one step ahead of them, fending off the small group assaults and weeding 
out any Russians trying to hide among their ranks. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 
has also responded to Russian movements in the Dobropillia area. In a video address to 
the nation and the wider world, he stated: “Today, our military delivered reports about 
the frontline – especially Dobropillia, Pokrovsk direction. Steps have been 
taken there to correct the situation, and I am grateful to every unit and every one of 
our warriors who are now destroying the occupier.” Zelenskyy, along with various 
analysts, experts, and media sources, has also pointed out the importance of 
the timing of Russia’s latest assault, mere days before the Russian president, Vladimir 
Putin, is set to sit down with US president, Donald Trump, at the Alaska 2025 Russia-US Summit.
In an August 12 X post, Zelenskyy wrote: “I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for 
their clear support of our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such 
an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace.
Indeed, we all support President Trump’s determination, and together we must shape 
positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again. We see that the 
Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements 
that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. In such circumstances, it is important 
that the unity of the world is not threatened. Issues related to the security of Ukraine and 
Europe are discussed by all of us together. Any decision must add to our joint security 
capabilities. And if Russia refuses to stop the killings, it must be held accountable. As 
long as they continue the war and occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure 
– the pressure of strength, the pressure of sanctions, the pressure of diplomacy. I thank 
everyone who is helping. Peace through strength.” On the same day, meeting with journalists 
in Ukraine, Zelenskyy made clear his view that Russians were desperately trying to 
make gains in a bid to strengthen Putin’s position at the negotiating table, stating:
“Groups of Russians, without equipment, have advanced about 10 km in several points. Some 
have already been found, partially destroyed, and partially captured. We will also find 
and destroy others in the near future. The task of this advance is clear to us: by August 
15, to form a certain information background, especially in the American space, that Russia is 
moving forward and Ukraine is losing territory.” On Wednesday, Trump and Zelenskyy participated in 
a virtual summit with various European leaders and officials, including German Chancellor Friedrich 
Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, 
French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
The summit appeared to go well, with Macron stating:
“Trump was very clear on the fact that the US wants to obtain 
a ceasefire at this meeting in Alaska.” The US president has also been outspoken in 
his assessment of the situation, issuing a stern warning to Putin and suggesting that the US 
would impose “very severe consequences” on Russia if Putin failed to agree to a ceasefire deal.
Trump also stated he plans to use his first meeting with Putin to set up a second meeting 
that will also include Zelenskyy, stating: “There’s a very good chance that 
we’re going to have a second meeting, which will be more productive than the first.”
At the same time, the US president appears unwilling to continue dealing with 
Putin if the Russian president continues to be evasive and unhelpful. Trump said:
“Now, there may be no second meeting, because if I feel that it’s not appropriate to have it, because 
I didn’t get the answers that we have to have, then we’re not going to have a second meeting.”
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, while sharing the stage with Friedrich Merz at a recent news 
conference, claimed that Putin was “bluffing” about having any interest in peace, saying:
“Russia is attempting to portray itself as capable of occupying all of Ukraine. 
That is undoubtedly what they want.” He went on to say there was little 
point in holding talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine’s participation, before outlining 
a series of demands. He argued that trilateral talks need to take place and a ceasefire 
agreement must be reached, with “security guarantees – truly reliable ones” for Ukraine’s 
future. He also wants any possible agreement to stipulate that Russia will not be allowed 
to block Ukraine’s path to joining alliances like NATO or the European Union in the future, 
adding that sanctions and other punishments on Russia should be strengthened if Putin once again 
refuses to end the fighting, summing up by saying: “These are effective principles. 
It is important that they work.” For now, the world watches and waits to see what 
will come of the talks between Trump and Putin, and while many hope for a ceasefire and end to 
the bloodshed, Russia’s actions on the front lines provide little cause for hope or optimism.
It’s clear that the Kremlin is not just maintaining the pressure on Ukraine but 
arguably becoming even more aggressive and chaotic in its actions, spreading its forces 
out, capturing various villages and settlements, encircling major cities, and doing all 
it can to gain ground, presumably to give it more power at the negotiating table.
This has long been a part of Putin’s strategy. Indeed, earlier in the year, around the time 
of the Istanbul negotiations between the two countries, Russia ramped up its attacks on 
Ukraine like never before, with civilian casualties seeing a 50% increase from the previous 
month, with over 900 injuries and more than 160 deaths. April was even worse, with over 200 
civilians killed and more than 1,100 injured. Recent months have seen even more aggression.
June saw a three-year high figure of civilian casualties, with 232 deaths and 1,343 injuries 
as Russia intensified its drone and missile strikes on numerous towns and cities across the 
nation, with Danielle Bell, Head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, stating:
“Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three 
years. The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has 
brought even more death and destruction to civilians far away from the frontline.”
July was even worse. Not only did it set a new record for drone attacks, with more than 6,000 
in total, but it also took the civilian casualty count even higher, with 286 deaths and 1,388 
injuries across 18 of the country’s 24 regions. Again, Danielle Bell was forced to 
paint a grim picture of the situation for Ukraine’s innocent people:
“For the second month in a row, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine 
hits a new three-year high. Only the first three months after the Russian Federation launched its 
full-scale invasion of Ukraine saw more killed and injured than in this past month.”
She went on to add: “Whether you are in a hospital or a prison, at 
home or at work, close to or far away from the frontline, if you are in Ukraine today, you 
are at risk of getting killed or injured by the war. The risk is significantly higher 
than last year and it continues to rise.” The numbers of casualties make for harrowing 
reading and demonstrate how ruthless and coldhearted the Kremlin continues to be in this 
conflict. Possessed by his pursuit of power, Putin is prepared to stop at nothing to get what 
he wants, no matter how many lives it costs. But the facts of the matter are clear: Ukraine 
is still defending nobly, Russia still isn’t taking those big, important cities it needs 
to truly push on and gain valuable ground, and the war remains in a state of stalemate, 
with no signs of anything changing any time soon. And because of that, Putin isn’t the 
powerful negotiating position he wants to be. He can’t simply demand Ukraine hand over entire 
regions and huge swathes of land, and he may soon face even more serious consequences of his actions 
if the talks with Trump fail to bear fruit. And that’s not the only bad news Putin is facing 
right now. Check out our recent video to learn of a possible upcoming coup against the Kremlin 
by disgruntled military officers, or enjoy our breakdown of the Russian Navy’s recent series of 
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