Russian forces continue to advance slowly and steadily towards Pokrovsk (west of Avdeevka), largely thanks to weak resistance from the Ukrainian military, especially in the area immediately northwest of Avdeevka, reports the "Institute for the Study of War" .
Russia will likely continue to progress more slowly as it moves past larger cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky notes that in some Ukrainian brigades it is not possible to carry out rotational schemes, as their replacement formations are not yet staffed or equipped. Thus, weak points are found in the Ukrainian army, which the Russian forces can attack.
Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets also notes that the Ukrainian defenders in the direction of Pokrovsk have worse equipment and defensive potential, which is why they cannot slow down the Russian advance.
Russian forces are taking advantage of the fact that the West, and in particular the US, is slow to provide military aid to Ukraine and to rearm it.
ISW recently reported that Russian forces are trying to make an important tactical move - to encircle Ukrainian forces east of the T0511 (O0544) Ocheretine-Hrodivka-Myrnograd highway, mostly on the left bank of the Vovcha River.
Russian observers say Russian forces are attacking south of Vesele along the railway line to Sergievka and Zhelane (just south of Vesele), which could help them encircle Ukrainian forces in that part of Ukraine.
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Ukrainian and Russian sources report that Russian units have captured Timofeevka (north of road O0544 and Vesele area).
In addition, according to Ukrainian sources, Russian forces have advanced 6.5 kilometers in depth and 7.5 kilometers in length in the direction of Sokil to Sergievka, crossing the rivers Vovcha and Kazennii Torets (passing through Prokhres-Vovche and Lozuvatske, respectively).
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In addition, the Russian forces are close to achieving an operationally significant breakthrough in the Pokrov direction, and by the end of August.
The current rate of tactical advance of Russian units towards Pokrovsk is unlikely to continue indefinitely as they are increasingly approaching larger cities.
It is notable that the Russian Central Command is redistributing and directing forces more quickly between the various sectors in its extended area of responsibility (AOR) in the Donetsk region than it did before.
This is probably due to the more flexible command and control structure, and may also be related to the tactical vulnerabilities of the Ukrainian units.
Ukraine has reportedly received a number of F-16 fighter jets, but it will likely be several months before it can use them as it would like.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again reiterated that Ukraine will not give up its sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the war with Russia.
On August 1, Russia, Belarus, the USA, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and Norway exchanged 26 prisoners from different countries.
The key takeaway from the "Institute for the Study of War" is that Russian forces continue to advance slowly and steadily in the direction of Pokrovsk (west of Avdeevka).
This is largely due to the lack of equipment and the insufficient number of Ukrainian military personnel on the ground immediately northwest of Avdeyevka.