According to a recent analysis of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian soldiers have been steadily advancing on Volodymyr Zelensky’s land and are now within striking distance of Pokrovsk, a crucial Ukrainian city.
According to Knewz.com, Pokrovsk is strategically crucial to the Russian effort because it is only 11 miles from the border between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk districts.
According to reports, the Ukrainian city serves as a vital logistical hub for the country’s eastern military and is home to Ukraine’s sole domestic supply of coking coal, which is also used to make a vital component of the country’s steel industry.
Russian forces have been gaining tactical ground south of Pokrovsk since December 10, according to the latest Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment released by the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“Geolocatedfootagepublished on December 10 indicates that Russian forces have advanced in western Novyi Trud and along the E50 highway south of Dachenske, narrowing the small pocket west of the E50 highway and south of the Novyi Trud-Dachenske line,” the report stated.
Russian forces are now roughly six kilometers south of Pokrovsk as a result of this push. In the upcoming days, Russian forces will probably keep working to block the area between Novyi Trud and Dachenske since doing so will provide them a better vantage point from which to attack Shevchenko, which is located southwest of Pokrovsk and just northwest of Novyi Trud.
“Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Nazar Voloshyn noted on December 11 that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian fortifications west of Novyi Trud, south of Novotroitske (southwest of Shevchenko), and on the southwestern outskirts of Shevchenko itself… Ukrainian forces lost two positions during these attacks and are working to restore them,” ISW added.
A Ukrainian general reportedly called the Russian assault on Pokrovsk “critical” and “catastrophic.”
“If we don’t take action now, we will lose the city of Pokrovsk in the near future,” stated Serhiy Filimonov, commander of the 108 Separate Battalion, popularly known as the “Da VinciWolves,” according to a statement published by the Ukrainian news agency Public Broadcasting.
“At least 200 personnel are added to the Russian battalions each month. The amount of troops and enemy manpower is typically out of proportion because they are withdrawn and fully replenished. However, 15-20, 30, and even 50 enemy troops can be eliminated in a day close to the detachment’s position,” Commander Filimonov continued in his statement.
Additionally, according to the ISW assessment, “Russian forces are currently relying on a superior number of personnel and artillery ammunition to secure tactical gains in the Pokrovsk direction,” as he noted that Ukrainian positions in the region are being hit by Russian artillery fire up to 30 times per day.
In a recent social media post, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed to have “personally visited” the troops of the 38th separate brigade of the Marine Infantry, which is based in Pokrovsk.
In an evaluation of the ongoing wars in the area, he stated that Russian forces are winning “first of all, in manpower.”
According to the Commander-in-Chief, in order to prevent Vladimir Putin’s forces from advancing farther in the area, Ukrainian forces must use unorthodox tactics.
The “battles are extremely tough,” Syrskyi wrote on Facebook, adding that “non-standard decisions are necessary to increase the stability of the defense and more effectively destroy the invaders.” The Russian occupants are attempting to breach our troops’ defense by launching all of their forces forward.”
“Ukrainian soldiers are incredibly resilient and deal the enemy heavy casualties. “Under such circumstances, our primary objective is to fortify the defense, specifically to supply units with an adequate supply of ammunition and ensure their continuous transportation,” he added.
On the other hand, a report from another Ukrainian brigade officer contradicts the Commander-in-Chief’s assessment vis-a-vis effective Russian manpower,statingthat Putin’s forces have lost nearly 3,000 personnel in the Pokrovsk offensive in two weeks.
According to ISW, “Continued Russian losses at this scale will impose a mounting cost on Russia’s already-strained force generation apparatus. Russian forces may well continue making gains towards Pokrovsk, but the losses they are taking to do so will temper their ability to translate these gains into more far-reaching offensive operations.”
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!