Ukrainian defenses are buckling under the relentless Russian pressure.
This happened in the area near Pokrovsk: instead of banging their heads against a heavily fortified city, Russian forces, as they do, circumvent it, seeking to cut all supply lines and encircle the defenders, at which point the garrison has to either surrender or be destroyed by attacks from all sides.
This playbook was implemented in Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Kurakhovo, Ugledar and so many other places.
What is striking now is that the northern prong, expected to turn west to encircle Pokrovsk, found weaknesses on the depleted defenses, and dashed north by 9 miles.
Post by Senior Editor Security Policy and Conflicts at German paper BILD, Julian Röpcke.
The Russian breach of Ukraine’s eastern frontline has triggered a panic in the country – or, as the MSM would prefer, ‘a wave of indignation and confusion’.
This development comes three days before Friday’s historic Alaska summit between Donald J. Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Financial times reported:
“Ukrainian and western military analysts said that Russian forces had advanced nearly 15km over the past few days along a narrow corridor parallel to Dobropillia, a coal mining town turned key logistical hub north of the stronghold of Pokrovsk that Russian troops have nearly encircled.
The shock advance threatens to cut off a vital road linking Dobropillia to Kramatorsk, the de facto capital of Ukrainian-held Donetsk region which the Russians aim to capture, while allowing the Kremlin’s forces to bypass and flank a belt of fortifications and defensive lines built in recent months.”