Illustrative photo
The Russian military has occupied Mykolaivka in the Kramatorsk district of Donetsk Region. City of Pokrovsk is being less than 20 kilometers away. This is evidenced by DeepState data.
The situation at the front was discussed on Hromadske Radio with Roman Pohorilyi, co-founder and analyst of DeepState.
«If you draw a line from the current battle line, Pokrovsk is just under 20 kilometers away. But these are just numbers—they can decrease rapidly or stay the same, depending on circumstances, which are actively changing. The enemy is shifting their attack vectors, trying to gain higher ground. We’ve reached the beginning of this effort in Mykolaivka. The next key height is Ocheretyne, which the Russians will now attempt to break through. They have also approached Novaya Grodivka.«
There were reports that the Russians are attacking in small groups across multiple fronts. Is this tactic difficult to counter?
«Small groups are one of their main tactics. The Russians have used this approach consistently, especially when their primary force was infantry. This was seen in the Siversk and Chasovyi Yar areas. In these situations, they try to cross channels in small groups and establish a foothold, which also happened frequently in the Avdiivka area. Sometimes these small groups grow to 40-60 people. They infiltrate in small groups, accumulate, and once they’ve reached sufficient numbers, they form a larger unit, turning it into a staging area for continued attacks. The key point is that the Russians won’t stop using this tactic, which poses a significant challenge for our military. This is how their advances are made.«
Roman Pohorilyi notes that when comparing our resources with the enemy’s, we have always been at a disadvantage. This imbalance is also evident in Pokrovsk.
«The Russians have a quantitative advantage, primarily in manpower. Their artillery, aviation, and equipment are also active. The issue of resources is crucial for us—we need as many shells, drones, and other supplies as possible.«
It should be recalled that on August 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the main goal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region is to liberate the border from Russian troops. Thus Ukraine wants to ensure security for Sumy Region.
On August 13, the number of settlements in Kursk under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased to 74, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The Commander-in-Chief shared this information during a report to the president. According to the head of state, inspections and stabilization measures are being carried out in the Ukrainian-controlled settlements of the Kursk region, and the development of humanitarian solutions for these territories continues. Despite the difficult and intense battles, the advance of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region continues, and the exchange fund for Ukraine is being replenished, Zelenskyy emphasized.