Russian troops are approaching Pokrovsk from the east and south. According to a number of sources, Russian forces are positioned 1-3 km away from the logistics heart of the town, on the western fringe of Ukraine’s Donetsk area.
Russian troops are approaching Pokrovsk, a serious logistics heart on the western fringe of Ukraine’s Donetsk area.
According to a number of sources, Russian troops are positioned 1-3 kilometers away from the town, which has been Moscow’s major goal for months.
The British Ministry of Defense mentioned Russian troops had been closing in on the south of Pokrovsk after capturing the village of Shevchenko, simply south of the city, about 4-5km away. Shevchenko itself is positioned on the intersection of two roads resulting in Pokrovsk.
The ministry’s evaluation is that Russia will probably proceed to achieve floor in direction of Pokrovsk, whereas additionally persevering with to advance westward in direction of the middle of the town.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that, in accordance with Russian navy bloggers, Russian forces drove Ukrainian troops from Novotroitske southwest of Pokrovsk and superior into areas to the south, southeast and south -west of Pokrovsk.
Since early September, Ukraine has moved extra forces into the realm, whereas Russia has not eliminated any of its personal. It at the moment threatens to encircle a big group of Ukrainian forces south of the principle space.
Why is Pokrovsk so vital?
It is tough to overestimate the significance of Pokrovsk, each for Ukraine and for Russia.
Pokrovsk was one of many strongholds of Ukraine’s Eastern Front. Its geographic location not solely makes it arguably one of the vital logistics facilities, however additionally it is extraordinarily near the rear of Ukraine’s combat towards the Russian invasion.
Dnipro, certainly one of Ukraine’s largest cities with a inhabitants of round 1 million, is only a 2.5-hour drive from Prokovsk. For Kiev, dropping Pokrovsk would additionally probably imply waging the battle nearer to central Ukraine and deeper into its better-protected areas.
Pokrovsk can be simply 20 km from the executive border of the Donetsk area, an space the Kremlin has been making an attempt to achieve since 2014, as Russian forces attempt to seize all of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Moscow at the moment controls round 60% of the Donetsk area.
Additional sources •ISW
