Threat of Encirclement: Russian Forces Attempt to Surround Pokrovsk, Increasing Tensions in Donetsk
In eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, the military situation remains tense and complex. Russian aggressors are implementing new tactical maneuvers aiming to encircle Ukrainian forces in the city of Pokrovsk. According to sources from the operational-strategic group 'Khortytsia,' movements have been observed between Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk. Viktor Tregubov, the spokesperson of the group, confirmed in an interview on 'Suspline' that the enemy is attempting to bypass the city’s defenses from the east and encircle it. Tregubov stated that Russian troops have partially pushed into the area between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, seeking to develop this breach. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are focusing on destroying enemy equipment and personnel, slowing their advance, and preventing full encirclement. History has shown that frontal assaults on cities often lead to heavy losses, so Russian forces prefer tactics involving partial encirclement. Military analysts emphasize that despite their current strengths, Russian troops struggle to replicate large-scale assaults like those in Mariupol or Bakhmut due to manpower shortages and the high cost of such operations. Their main goal remains encircling the city to put strategic pressure without resorting to direct frontal assaults that could weaken defenses significantly. The situation remains tense and uncertain, and further actions from both sides will determine the course of this complex struggle for control over Donetsk.