Defense & Aerospace Report Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Nov 19, ’25] Bendett & Rumer on the Latest Russia-Ukraine Headlines
Nov 19, 2025
Sam Bendett, a defense analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, and Dr. Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, delve into the critical battle for Pokrovsk and its significance in the Donbas region. They discuss Russia's evolving tactics, including targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and analyze Ukraine's responses with strategic deep strikes. The conversation also touches on U.S. policy, European support, and the growing importance of unmanned systems in both nations' military strategies.
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Small-Team Infiltration Is Russia’s New Tactic
- Russian forces now attack in very small infiltration teams of 1–5 soldiers to seep through thin Ukrainian lines.
- These small units dig in, get resupplied by drone, and accumulate into larger footholds over time.
Pokrovsk Is A Tactical Logistical Keystone
- Pokrovsk is a logistical hub whose fall would expose nearby towns and sever Ukrainian supply lines.
- Control of the town also extends Russian UAV reach to interdict Ukrainian logistics up to ~15 km.
Infrastructure Attacks Aim To Break Resolve
- Moscow continues to pursue victory at any cost, including strikes on Ukraine's energy grid to pressure civilians and leaders.
- Ukrainian resolve remains high, so Russia is intensifying pain to try to force concessions.