Russia surrounds critical Ukrainian city: What happens if Pokrovsk falls?
It has been reported that the Russian army is advancing toward Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian city considered to be of critical military importance.
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12punto FOREIGN NEWS
Pokrovsk, the 'key' to the Donetsk Oblast, which Ukrainian forces are reportedly making intense efforts to defend, has been surrounded by Russian troops. According to a report by a Western-based organization, the city could fall under Russian control in the coming hours.
The fall of Pokrovsk could enable Russia to launch large-scale military operations in and around the Donetsk Oblast. The city was considered the most critical logistics hub in the region.
According to the regional governor, 7,000 people currently live in the city, which had a pre-war population of 60,000.
According to the January 31 report by the Western-based war observation organization Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops, who have surrounded the city on both sides, are within range of Ukrainian artillery and drones.
RUSSIAN ADVANCE ALONG THE FRONT LINE
In recent days, the Russians also reached the main railway line leading to Dnipro, the most important logistics hub in Eastern Ukraine.
Speaking to Reuters, the 2nd commander of the Ukrainian 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade on the Pokrovsk front, codenamed Phoenix, said, 'The situation is generally difficult, the enemy is attacking constantly.' The Ukrainian commander gave the interview under a codename due to security concerns.
Phoenix stated that the enemy has a much larger number of infantry, attacks in small groups prepared to suffer very high casualties, and skillfully uses the terrain and low-visibility weather conditions to hide from drones.
The Ukrainian commander also added the phrase, 'They are advancing day and night.'
Pokrovsk's road and rail connections are known as an important supply hub for Ukraine's front line in Donetsk.