Can Ukrainian Armed Forces hold Pokrovsk and push back Russia? Expert opinion
Photo: An expert assessed whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be able to hold Pokrovsk and push back the enemy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces can hold Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and push back the enemy. However, this will require reserves, stated military expert and Ukrainian Armed Forces reserve major Oleksii Hetman in a comment to RBC-Ukraine's YouTube channel.
Hetman believes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a chance to hold Pokrovsk and repel the enemy, but reserves must be deployed.
"Without additional forces, we won’t be able to do it," he said.
When asked whether Ukraine's forces will take this step, the expert referenced a recent statement by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Syrskyi emphasized that a war cannot be won in defensive positions alone and hinted at surprises Ukrainian forces are preparing for the Russians.
"Sometimes, as sad and cruel as it may seem, battles must be conducted to exhaust the enemy as much as possible before reserves are deployed. Reserves are usually introduced not at the start of combat but at the final stage, when the enemy is worn out and believes they have achieved their goal. That’s when a counterstrike is launched," Hetman explained.
In his view, the lack of manpower in this part of the front could be due to the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces want to exhaust the enemy as much as possible to launch a powerful counterattack and push back the Russian army.
"From a military point of view, these are reasonable things, but from a human point of view, they may seem somewhat cruel. But war is a cruel thing," the expert stressed.
Battles for Pokrovsk
In recent months, Russian forces have been attempting to breach defenses in the Pokrovsk direction. This area remains one of the most challenging areas of the front.
According to Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, the enemy aims to encircle the city but has been unsuccessful.
Recently, Ukrainian forces reported that there is no talk of a semi-encirclement of Pokrovsk at this stage, despite Russian hopes for such an outcome.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russian forces are forming a strike group south of Pokrovsk, potentially signaling a shift in Russia's tactical priorities.
Additionally, Russian troops have recently changed their tactics in the assault on Pokrovsk. They are attempting to bypass the city from the west through small villages and wooded areas while seeking to disrupt Ukrainian supply chains.
