Encirclement is not being discussed at moment: Serviceman provides insight into situation in Pokrovsk
Photo: The serviceman discussed the situation in Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
Currently, there is no talk of encircling Pokrovsk, as the Russian troops have not even taken it in a half-ring. At the same time, the enemy continues to storm the city and destroy its residential and industrial infrastructure, states Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Yevhen Iyevlev in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
According to him, the situation in the Pokrovsk area has been difficult for more than six months.
"Unfortunately, we are seeing negative dynamics in terms of progress. But in the last 2-3 weeks, this progress has not been as fast as it was 4-5 months ago when the enemy was capturing 2-3 villages per day," Iyevlev noted.
He explained that continuous assaults are ongoing, but the Russian troops are no longer able to advance as they did before.
"The command has taken note of some issues, not everything has been resolved, but problems are being addressed," the serviceman added.
At the same time, according to him, it cannot be said that the situation around Pokrovsk poses an immediate threat of encirclement.
"Because right now, it's not even a half-ring. But globally, we need to understand that the enemy plans to at least create a half-ring around Pokrovsk. Whether they will succeed or not is hard to predict. The quality of the fortifications that have already been dug after working on the mistakes is much better than the fortifications on the outskirts of Pokrovsk," Iyevlev explained.
He also mentioned that in the last two weeks, the Russian forces have begun to significantly intensify the destruction of Pokrovsk's residential and industrial infrastructure.
"Earlier, it was said that the enemy might try to capture the city without destroying it, but now they are just destroying it as much as possible. For the past two weeks, everything that can be destroyed has been hit. They are targeting private sectors, administrative buildings, everything they come across," the serviceman added.
Fighting for Pokrovsk
In recent months, the Russian forces have been trying to break through the defense in the Pokrovsk direction. This area is one of the toughest sections of the front.
A spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group of Forces Viktor Trehubov explained, that the enemy wants to trap the city "in pincers," but has not succeeded.
At the same time, the American Institute for the Study of War noted that encircling Pokrovsk is one of the key strategic goals for the Russian troops.
Recently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed that there is currently no talk of a semi-encirclement of Pokrovsk, although the Russian forces are hoping for this outcome.
