Russians change tactics near Pokrovsk: Instead of frontal attacks, they aim to encircle city
Illustrative photo: Russians changed tactics near Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
Russian troops have changed their tactics near Pokrovsk. They are attempting to encircle the city instead of frontal assault, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Viktor Trehubov, Spokesperson for the Khortytsia operational and tactical group of troops.
According to Trehubov, the intensity of enemy attacks in the Pokrovsk direction has not decreased; on the contrary, it has increased. Currently, the Pokrovsk direction accounts for almost half of all combat clashes on the front.
The situation near Pokrovsk is as follows - there are a large number of small engagements because the Russians are trying to infiltrate in small groups and encircle the city from the western side. In particular, the Russian assaults near the city are not very large, but there are many of them.
"The Russians are not attacking head-on. And when I mentioned that Pokrovsk is partial evidence that the Russians might be running out of resources - that's precise because, for all the cities before this, they went straight on," said Trehubov.
Ukrainian military believes this is the first time the Russians have started fighting "according to the military science."
"They have begun to fight not just with frontal waves but with an attempt to encircle, to bypass a large city and force Ukrainian forces to withdraw from it. This is exactly what we see near Pokrovsk," stated Trehubov.
Fighting for Pokrovsk
Since the end of last summer, the Russian troops have been trying to break through Ukraine`s defense in the Pokrovsk direction. Earlier, Trehubov mentioned that the enemy wants to encircle the city, but has succeeded so far.
The American Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russians are forming a strike group south of Pokrovsk. This may indicate Russia's plans to shift its tactical priorities.
As previously reported, the Russian army has changed its tactics for advancing on Pokrovsk. The enemy has been attempting to bypass the city from the west through small villages and forested areas, as well as disrupt Ukrainian logistical chains.
