Table of Contents
Russian Forces Intensify Attacks Near Pokrovsk to Cut Ukrainian Supply Lines
Strategic Importance of Pokrovsk
Russian forces are targeting the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to bypass it from the south and disrupt supply routes to Ukrainian troops. Located in the Donetsk region, Pokrovsk serves as a vital road and rail hub. Its capture could severely impact Ukraine’s ability to maintain its defenses in the east and enable Russia to advance westward.
Ongoing Russian Attacks
The area remains a hotspot for military activity. Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, reported that Russian troops launched 34 attacks in the past 24 hours. These attacks focus on breaking through Ukrainian defenses south of Pokrovsk rather than engaging in direct urban combat.
Avoiding Urban Warfare
Russian forces are employing a strategy of encirclement, aiming to block supply routes by deploying small groups of soldiers to settlements south of the city. According to Trehubov, “They don’t go directly into the city because it means heavy urban fighting. So they first try to bypass the city and interrupt the logistics chains.”
Ukrainian Countermeasures
Ukraine’s military is actively responding with drones and precision weaponry to disrupt Russian advances and protect supply lines. These efforts aim to prevent Russian forces from consolidating their positions and reaching their strategic objectives.
The Civilian Impact
Before the war, Pokrovsk was home to about 60,000 residents. Currently, only an estimated 11,000 people remain in the city, which also houses Ukraine’s sole supplier of coking coal for its steel industry, further emphasizing its economic significance.