UK intelligence: Russia focuses on cutting off Ukrainian logistics near Pokrovsk
Photo: British intelligence has named the priority of Russians near Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
The Russian military is focused on cutting the logistics lines of Ukrainian troops near Pokrovsk, resulting in heavy losses, according to the British Ministry of Defense.
The report says that on February 13, Russia announced the capture of the village of Vodiane Druhe, which is located east of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad near the H-32 highway. It connects Kostyantynivka and Myrnohrad and is an important logistical route for Ukrainian defenders.
“Fighting has continued in this area with Ukrainian forces likely repelling most of the Russian attacks,” British analysts say.
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From the western flank of this area, Ukrainian forces counterattack near Kotlyne on the T-04-06 highway and in Pishchane. Heavy fighting is taking place in both areas.
The intelligence adds that Ukrainian forces are likely trying to prevent the Russian advance to hold the main supply route towards Udachne, 12 kilometers southwest of Pokrovsk.
“The attempted encirclement of Pokrovsk alongside efforts to cut off Ukrainian logistics lines along the front line remains a priority for Russian offensive activity,” the report says.
It also notes that the Russian focus is reflected in its heavy losses, which were previously announced by the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of troops. In January, the Russians lost 7,000 soldiers killed and up to 15,000 wounded or missing in the Pokrovsk area.
Fighting for Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk is a town in the Donetsk region that is being heavily fought over. The Pokrovsk sector is the most active area of the front line, with more than 70 attacks recorded there over the past day.
As previously reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainian defenders neutralized 15,000 Russians in the Pokrovsk sector in January.
According to the Khortytsia military unit spokesperson, Russian losses near Pokrovsk in January were higher than during the entire Second Chechen war.
The spokesperson also said that Russian troops did not have clear control over the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka highway, and fighting continued in the area.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that the situation in the Pokrovsk sector had improved in recent days.
