Trump’s narrative clashes with battlefield reports: What Ukrainian soldiers are really seeing

Oleksandr Karpiuk, also known as "Serg Marco," a Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance specialist and member of the 59th Mechanized Brigade, shared his firsthand account of the situation on the frontline via Facebook.

Karpiuk’s observations challenge recent messaging from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has implied that the Russian army is making advances while the Ukrainian Armed Forces struggle to hold their ground. Contrasting these claims, Karpiuk described a different reality unfolding in Pokrovsk.

In a conversation with fellow soldiers, Karpiuk highlighted the dwindling Russian presence. He shared an exchange between logistical command and frontline units regarding enemy casualties:

"Logistical Command to units in the Pokrovsk direction: 'Why has the number of destroyed targets and enemy casualties decreased? Do your job better!'

Units’ response: 'Apologies, but we don’t know how to destroy the enemy if there aren’t any.'”

Karpiuk also recounted a discussion with Ivan Kostenko, a serviceman from the “neighboring” 38th Brigade stationed near Myrnohrad, where both expressed a shared assessment: Russian forces in the area appear to be thinning out.

Despite continued assaults, Karpiuk noted that the quality and quantity of Russian personnel being deployed have significantly diminished. While Russian forces have achieved isolated successes — sometimes due to Ukrainian coordination challenges, drone deficiencies, or tactical withdrawals — Ukrainian forces are now burying Russian soldiers in trenches they once occupied.

The reconnaissance specialist suggested that the lull in Russian activity doesn’t mean they are purely on the defensive. They may have assessed their losses in the Pokrovsk direction and decided that their resources could be more effectively used in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, or elsewhere. However, he emphasized that “with proper planning, we have an opportunity to systematically improve the situation at the front. When the front is collapsing, meaningful reforms are impossible. This moment allows for rotations, reinforcements, fortifications, expanding the depth of attacks, and much more.”