Ukrainian Forces would be better off retreating to Pokrovsk to more advantageous positions - Expert
Photo: Ukrainian military (Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops should retreat to Pokrovsk to more advantageous positions from which they can hold their defense and prevent Russian troops from entering the city, states military expert Oleksii Hetman in a comment to RBC-Ukraine's YouTube channel.
"Near Pokrovsk, what is happening is that we need to organize a retreat to positions where we can hold the defense under such intense pressure from the Russians," said Hetman.
According to him, the Pokrovsk direction accounts for only 5% of the front line, but there are up to half of all combat encounters taking place there.
"Therefore, it makes sense to retreat closer to Pokrovsk. The local administration says that strong fortifications have been built there. Most likely, it is necessary to hold the defense there and prevent the enemy from reaching Pokrovsk and beyond," the expert noted.
He emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be better off retreating to prepared positions and taking up defense there, rather than engaging in battle in a completely destroyed settlement where it would be impossible to stop the enemy.
"If we have to retreat from some small settlements, we don’t want to offend the people who live there, but it might be a settlement with 10 houses that have already been utterly destroyed. So, we won’t spread panic; let’s believe that the units are withdrawing as ordered," Hetman added.
According to him, the situation in this direction is extremely worrying, but so far the enemy is only approaching Pokrovsk.
"There are also water obstacles and commanding heights that would make it easier for us to hold our position. I think the next few days will show what is happening there and how," the expert noted.
Situation in the Pokrovsk direction
Russian troops continue their advance in the Pokrovsk direction, which is currently the most challenging sector of the front.
It was previously reported that the Russian invaders are situated 11 km from Pokrovsk.
According to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, the situation in the Pokrovsk direction remains difficult, with more than 50 combat encounters occurring there daily.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will strengthen their positions in the Pokrovsk direction due to the worsening situation in this sector of the front.
