Russian forces have reportedly made notable advances in eastern Ukraine, with preparations underway for what could be a pivotal battle for a key city. If lost, this city’s fall could jeopardize the broader Donetsk region, according to military analysts.
Despite earlier hopes that Ukraine’s August incursion into the Kursk region would draw Russian forces away from Donetsk, the anticipated slowdown in Russian advances has not materialized. Ukrainian forces are now facing intense battles in the Donetsk region, hundreds of miles south of the Kursk operation, as reported by The Independent via News.Az.
The Kursk offensive did not result in a significant diversion of Russian troops, leaving Ukrainian forces to grapple with advancing Russian units in Donetsk. In addition to low morale, delayed troop rotations, and apparent ammunition shortages, Ukraine’s military has had to fight fiercely to prevent further Russian gains in the region.
On Tuesday, Russian Security Council chief and former defense minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Moscow’s forces had seized a significant stretch of territory in Donetsk. Later, the Russian Ministry of Defence stated that they had taken control of four villages near the key city of Pokrovsk. While these reports may be exaggerated or premature, they underscore the volatility on the ground.
Ukraine-Russia Frontline
Open-source intelligence and battlefield updates suggest that Russian forces in the wider Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk, advanced in August at their fastest pace in two years. The Ukrainian general staff confirmed on Tuesday that Russian troops are actively attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses in multiple directions around Pokrovsk.
The Battle for Pokrovsk
Although the Ukraine-Russia frontline spans approximately 740 miles, the most intense fighting is currently concentrated in Donetsk, particularly near the city of Pokrovsk. This city is a critical hub for Ukrainian defenses in the region, sitting at the junction of two strategic supply routes vital for maintaining control over Donetsk.
According to the Centre for Defence Strategies (CDS), a Ukrainian security think tank, the forthcoming battle for Pokrovsk may be the climax of Russian offensive operations in 2024.
Russian Advances in Donetsk
Russian forces appear to be focusing their efforts on encircling Pokrovsk from the north in the Toretsk direction and from the south near Kurakhove. Ukrainian general staff reported five attacks near Toretsk, particularly around the contested city of Niu-York. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops repelled 11 of the 14 Russian assaults aimed at Pokrovsk, and a similar number of attacks in the Kurakhove area.
CDS analysts suggest that Russian forces may now aim to encircle the city of Selydove, using it as a staging point for further assaults on Pokrovsk.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides preparing for the next phase of the conflict in this strategically critical region.
Leave a Reply