Russian forces are rapidly approaching a key military hub in eastern Ukraine, according to a local official. The city of Pokrovsk, although not a major urban center, plays a crucial role for the Ukrainian military due to its strategic location with easy access to Kostiantynivka, another important military center.
Ukrainian troops rely on the road connecting Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka for resupplying front lines and evacuating casualties towards Dnipro. The head of the Pokrovsk city military administration, Serhii Dobriak, has issued a warning for the community to evacuate promptly as the enemy is closing in on the outskirts of Pokrovsk.
Despite recent gains by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, Russia has not halted its advances in other parts of Ukraine. Ukraine reported capturing over 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory since the surprise assault began, displacing tens of thousands of Russians from their homes.
Ukraine's military continues to advance into Russian territory, with officials stating progress ranging from 1 to 3 kilometers in some areas. Russia has redirected troops from occupied Ukraine to address territorial losses in the Kursk region, with a focus on capturing Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Russian forces have been steadily pressuring Ukrainian defenses across the front line, aiming to secure territory before new Ukrainian recruits and Western weapons bolster Ukraine's position. The recent advance towards Pokrovsk has raised concerns for Ukraine and its allies, as the city's capture would bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to seizing eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
The southern city of Kostiantynivka, part of a vital defense belt along with Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, is crucial for Ukraine's regional defenses. Ukrainian military sources report ongoing intense fighting in Pokrovsk and Toretsk, with Russian forces maintaining offensive momentum in Donetsk despite Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War highlighted that Russian forces are sustaining a high offensive tempo in Donetsk, indicating a continued focus on advancing in eastern Ukraine amidst pressure from Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
