British intelligence assesses Russia's push to encircle Ukraine's key city Pokrovsk
Photo: British intelligence assessed the situation near Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
Russian ground forces are intensifying efforts to encircle Pokrovsk. Over the past week, Russia has made some gains, the UK Ministry of Defense informs.
Pokrovsk is a key logistical hub for Ukrainian forces supporting operations in the Donetsk region.
"In the last week, Russian ground forces have made incremental gains to the north east of Pokrovsk, seeking to circumvent and cut off its logistic routes and ground lines of communication," the British intelligence report states.
According to the report, Russian forces have advanced westward near highway H-32, particularly toward the town of Rodynske. This town lies on the main northern supply route to Pokrovsk.
Russian troops also seized territory south of the highway, pushing forward in the Myrolyubivka area.
Open sources indicate that in July, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups tried to infiltrate the southern part of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces conducted clearance operations.
"Pokrovsk has likely been the priority axis for Russia since Avdiivka was seized by Russia in February 2024," the intelligence notes.
Photo: Battle map of the Pokrovsk direction (deepstatemap.live)
Fighting for Pokrovsk
At the end of July, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said a Russian sabotage group had entered Pokrovsk. Defense forces stopped the assaults and cleared the area.
According to Ukrainian defenders, enemy sabotage groups are destroyed before reaching the city. ISW analysts reported on July 31 that Ukrainian troops recently advanced in northern Lysivka in the Pokrovsk direction.
This remains the most active sector along the entire front line. In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders repelled 66 attacks in the Pokrovsk direction.
