Crisis in Pokrovsk: Ukrainian retreat looms amid Russian push
The Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center forecasts that by the end of this year, Ukrainian troops might have to leave Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region due to Russian attacks. The city authorities are urging residents to evacuate.
According to Janek Kesselmann, deputy head of Estonian military intelligence, Russian forces have an advantage on the front and may force Ukrainians to retreat from Pokrovsk. The Russians conduct an average of 167 attacks daily, with almost half taking place on the Donbas front, according to Kesselmann's interview with the ERR portal.
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Kesselmann noted that the previous week, Russian units moved about 1 mile towards Pokrovsk, a center of military operations. The distance to the outskirts is now about 3 to 4 miles.
He added that if the current pace of attacks continues, most likely, Ukrainian troops will be forced to withdraw from Pokrovsk before the end of this year.
The situation in Pokrovsk. Authorities urge evacuation
The head of the military administration in Pokrovsk, Serhii Dobriak, reported that the Russian army is currently 4 miles from the city, and Russian attacks have destroyed 80% of Pokrovsk's critical infrastructure. Nevertheless, the city still accommodates 13,000 civilians, including 94 children.
The day before, there were two separate attacks involving six KAB-500 bombs. The first strike hit the city center at 6:30 AM GMT, injuring four people, while the second attack took place at 7:00 PM GMT, using three more bombs. The damage has caused widespread injuries and destruction to civilian infrastructure, cutting off electricity, water, and gas supplies. According to Dobriak, these actions seem aimed at preparing the population for the hardships of winter.
He also informed that over 10 neighborhoods in the city have been left without power. "I am grateful to those who evacuated. A month and a half ago, there were 48,000 people in the city and almost 6,000 children," he added.
The Pokrovsk section
The Pokrovsk section is one of the hottest spots on the front. Numerous clashes occur there daily. The RBK-Ukraine portal reports that Russian soldiers advance several hundred meters daily, surrounding Selydove. This town is a key point leading to Pokrovsk, a military and logistical hub near the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The situation in the region is becoming increasingly dangerous. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian operational-strategic group Khortytsia reported that it had withdrawn its troops from Vuhledar in the Donetsk region to protect soldiers' lives and military equipment, as well as to prepare new positions for further combat operations. Vuhledar was a key target of Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine.
