Russia focusing efforts on Pokrovsk but suffering high casualty numbers, analysts say
We return now to the topic of Russia’s ongoing attempts to capture the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, which we discussed in some detail in our 7.36 post.
Described as the “gateway to Donetsk”, the eastern city is seen as an important location that could enable further advances in the region – which Russia aims to fully occupy – and in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region.
According to the ISW thinktank, Russian forces “have likely deprioritised offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area in favour of completing the seizure of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad”.
However, the analysts add that “Russian assault tactics in the Pokrovsk direction are resulting in high casualty rates”.
They cite a commander of a Ukrainian battalion operating in the Pokrovsk direction as saying that Russian assault units search for routes to bypass Ukrainian strong points in Pokrovsk and infiltrate into the Ukrainian near-rear while other Russian units – likely drone or artillery crews or lesser-quality infantry – work to destroy the Ukrainian strong point.
“The commander stated that Russian forces send untrained soldiers on assaults to draw Ukrainian drone and artillery fire, revealing the positions of Ukrainian drone and artillery crews, after which trained Russian assault infantry attempt to engage these Ukrainian crews in close combat,” they said.
“The commander stated that Russian forces regularly attack along the same routes, resulting in heavy casualties. The commander stated that Russian forces are constantly committing new units to battle and sending reinforcements to the area.”
ISW added a spokesperson for a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that elements of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet) sustained such heavy personnel losses that they were now combat ineffective and withdrawing.
They added elements of the 108th Motorized Rifle Regiment and 68th Tank Regiment (both 150th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th Combined Arms Arm [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) were replacing them.
Pokrovsk had a pre-war population of around 60,000 people, but most civilians have long since fled its ruins.
Capturing it could give Moscow a platform to drive towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in the Donetsk region, which Russia wants to capture in its entirety.
North of Pokrovsk, however, Ukraine has recorded recent gains near Dobropillia, where the general staff said last week it had recaptured over 71 square miles.
