In the coming months, Russian troops will likely try to surround Pokrovsk and bypass the fortified defensive line of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk region from the west. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), quoted by FOCUS.
Analysts recall that the Russian army has recently advanced northeast of Pokrovsk and may try to continue advancing towards the city of Dobropilya.
In particular, geolocation footage published on July 4 shows that the Russians have recently captured Koptev and Shevchenko Pershne and have advanced to the southeast of the village of Razine.
"Russian forces have recently taken advantage of the favorable opportunity to advance northeast of Pokrovsk, after since the beginning of 2025. focused on advancing along the Pokrovsk-Kostantyanovka T-0504 highway, ISW emphasizes.
The institute adds that the Russian military command may plan to use its outlet between Pokrovsk and Toretsk to surround Pokrovsk from the northeast and north or to bypass the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive positions in Kostantyanovka from the southwest and west.
"The Russian units conducting these attacks have been participating in the hostilities since February and March 2025, when they were transferred to reinforce Russian troops operating east of Pokrovsk," analysts remind.
At the same time, Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on July 3 that units of the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade (68th AK) and the 150th Motorized Rifle Division operate near Novotoretske (north of Razin) and Novokonomichne (south of Razin), after capturing Malinovka and Koptyevo in mid-June 2025.
According to analysts, units of the Russian 110th Motorized Rifle Brigade are also operating northeast of Pokrovsk. In turn, the Ukrainian army is destroying these Russian units, so it is currently unknown whether the Russian command plans to use them for a further offensive near the village of Razin.
ISW analysts believe that in order to continue the offensive, Russian troops will have to cross the Kazenny Torets River to advance west of Razin. According to analysts, this decision could become another obstacle to Russia's offensive, since everything depends on the water level in the river.
The institute notes that the advance of Russian troops to the west and northwest of Razino is associated with attempts to encircle Pokrovsk and Mirnograd. According to analysts, these are goals that Russia has been trying to achieve for more than a year and a half.
On July 5, the commander of the artillery reconnaissance battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine, which operates in Pokrovsk, said that Russian forces were concentrating their attacks between Malynivka, Novoolenovka and Popiv Yar in order to hinder Ukrainian logistics in Mirnograd and Pokrovsk.
According to the commander, the Russians are constantly carrying out attacks with motorcycles and buggies.
According to ISW analysts, if Russian forces continue to move towards Dobropilye, this will mean that they have decided not to attack the Ukrainian fortifications directly, but want to bypass them from the west. In this way, they are trying to force the Ukrainian armed forces to retreat and are threatening to surround them.
At the same time, experts believe that the Russian army has most likely reached a critical point of fatigue after more than a year of constant offensive operations. Analysts say that even if such an operation were to be carried out, it would last for years, would incur heavy losses, and would move very slowly.
In turn, analysts emphasize that the Russian command has repeatedly shown its readiness to conduct prolonged and exhausting offensives.
The United States purchased zirconium from Russia in May after a year and a half break, RIA Novosti reports, citing data from the US Statistical Service.
This metal is used in various fields of industry and medicine, including nuclear energy, rocketry, ceramics production, and also in the production of dental crowns.
According to US statistics, in May the United States imported zirconium ore and concentrates from Russia worth just over one million dollars. At the same time, the amount of purchases is the highest since the beginning of 2002. (earlier data is not publicly available).
Regular exports of the metal to the US have been suspended until June 2022, and one-off deliveries were last made in January of last year.
In addition to Russia, in May the US bought zirconium from Australia ($10 million), South Africa ($891.6 thousand), Malaysia ($120.7 thousand) and Canada ($29.1 thousand).