If Russia takes the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, it will have two main options for developing its offensive, Reuters points out.
The first option is to move west to the sparsely populated plains of Dnipropetrovsk region, "which are poorly fortified and offer Kiev no natural or urban defense".
The second option is to move north, "towards a denser network of industrial cities that will be harder to penetrate but will allow Moscow to put pressure on Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, the two largest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in the eastern part of Donetsk region".
Through In the past few days, the Russian army has reached Pokrovsk, the main railway line from the Dnieper region. The road and rail links in Pokrovsk could allow the Russian Federation to use it as a springboard for an offensive to the north and west, the British media has analyzed.
The city was once an important supply center for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the threat of shelling has limited this function in recent months. On both sides of the city, the Russians have artillery and drones within range of the main highway from the Dnieper, and most vehicles now use dirt roads to get around the city.
If Pokrovsk falls, the Russian army will have new options for developing the offensive
In the past, the city was an important supply center for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the threat of shelling has limited this function in recent months
Jan 31, 2025 21:42 90
