Russian forces are reportedly changing tactics in eastern Ukraine by bypassing the key stronghold of Pokrovsk and instead targeting supply lines leading to the city of Dnipro. This strategic move aims to weaken Ukrainian forces in the region by cutting off crucial supply routes.
The Ukrainian army has successfully defended Pokrovsk, forcing Russian troops to seek alternative routes to achieve their objectives. Major Viktor Trehubov, a local Ukrainian army spokesperson, highlighted the importance of the highway connecting Pokrovsk to Dnipro for supplying Ukrainian forces in the area.
Despite facing challenges due to depleted resources and being outnumbered by Russian forces, Ukrainian units continue to resist Russian advances. The ongoing conflict in the eastern Donetsk region, where Pokrovsk is situated, has intensified in recent days.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine acknowledged the heightened fighting around Pokrovsk in a recent address to the nation. The conflict has been exacerbated by Russia's gradual territorial gains, which have seen towns and villages fall under Russian control.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggressive stance in Ukraine is seen as an attempt to capitalize on the transition of power in the United States, with President-elect Donald Trump set to assume office soon. Trump has expressed a desire to end the conflict swiftly, although specific plans for achieving this goal remain undisclosed.
In 2022, Moscow illegally annexed the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, along with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, forming the economically significant Donbas industrial area. However, Russian forces have yet to establish full control over these territories.
For more updates on the war in Ukraine, visit AP's coverage.
