Russian autumn-winter offensive expected to concentrate on Ukraine's Pokrovsk and Dobropillia – General Staff
Ukrainian General Staff comments on Russian offensive (Illustrative photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
In the near future, the Russian army will continue to focus its efforts on two directions – Pokrovsk and Dobropillia, according to Major General Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrinform.
Current situation
According to him, the situation in the areas of hostilities remains difficult. The enemy continues to actively assault the positions of our forces in the main directions, creating a five- to sixfold superiority in workforce and equipment.
"The enemy is conducting offensive actions along the entire line of contact in thirteen main operational directions, with an average intensity of 160–190 assaults per day," Hnatov said.
He noted that the most tense situation remains in eastern Ukraine. There, the enemy has a significant advantage in terms of workforce and equipment, and, with the support of aviation, artillery, and the extensive use of strike UAVs, is conducting high-intensity offensive operations.
The enemy is trying to establish complete control over the settlements of Chasiv Yar and Toretsk, create conditions to block Kostiantynivka from the east, south, and west, and encircle the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration.
"It should be noted that at present the enemy is trying to widely use the tactic of infiltrating small groups into the rear areas of our forces, with their subsequent buildup and the development of the offensive in our rear," he emphasized.
Ukrainian counteroffensive
At the same time, the Defense Forces, under favorable conditions, are conducting assault operations aimed at restoring lost positions, as well as searching for and destroying enemy forces that have infiltrated the rear areas of our defenses.
"In general, despite significant losses in personnel, weapons, and military equipment, the enemy does not abandon its offensive actions. The course of events in the main direction, namely Pokrovsk, will determine the nature of the enemy's actions in other directions, in particular in Zaporizhzhia," Hnatov noted.
He also added that the situation at the front is affected by the weather, as precipitation will significantly reduce the passability of the terrain and, accordingly, the maneuverability of the troops.
Russian offensive
Hnatov said that there is a high probability that the Russians will continue to pursue their objectives in the offensive operation.
"The goal they declared, I remind you, was stated as follows: the complete liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. From our point of view, this means an attempt to reach the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and fully occupy the entire territory," he said.
Currently, it can be predicted that the Russians will continue to focus their efforts specifically on two directions: Pokrovsk and Dobropillia.
Earlier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Ukrainian forces had achieved successes in the Dobropillia direction and had encircled part of the enemy's units.
Syrskyi also stated that the enemy has used, and continues to use, in the Dobropillia direction and in the Novopavlivka direction, the so-called thousand cuts tactic.
It involves the simultaneous use of a large number of small assault groups – 4–6 service members – who advance using the terrain, ravines, and tree lines, with the main task of penetrating as deeply as possible into our territory.
