«Our strategy is working» — Syrskyi on the situation near Pokrovsk

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that in recent days, the occupiers have been unable to advance near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Region. The Ukrainian defense forces there have deprived Russian troops of their ability to maneuver.

Oleksandr Syrskyi made this statement in an interview with CNN.

«So, our strategy is working. They can no longer maneuver their reserves as they used to. This weakening is also being felt in other areas,» Syrskyi said.

According to Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, defense in the Pokrovsk direction has been strengthened. This prevented the Russians from advancing «even a single meter» over the past five days.

Despite Russia concentrating its best-trained units in that area, it cannot maneuver them or redeploy troops from other areas to reinforce them. Furthermore, the number of artillery attacks and assaults has decreased. Syrskyi also mentioned that Ukraine has concentrated its best unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) units in the Pokrovsk area.

Battles near Pokrovsk

As a reminder, enemy attacks on Pokrovsk have diminished in recent days, as the enemy has shifted focus to the Selydove area.

Pavlo Lakiychuk, Head of Security Programmes at the Centre for Global Studies «Strategy XXI,» recently reported on Hromadske Radio:

«Hostile attacks on Pokrovsk have decreased somewhat in recent days due to the enemy shifting its focus to the south, concentrating its attacks on the Selydove area. Ukrainian forces have also moved reserves there. Currently, the epicenter of the confrontation in the Pokrovsk sector is in Selydove.»

According to Lakiychuk, the enemy is attempting to expand its flanks. To continue the frontal offensive, the occupiers need to secure their flanks, with the southern flank being the most vulnerable.

«The actions underway pose a serious threat to the grouping of our troops between the Pokrovsk bulge and the Kurakhove direction.

South of Pisky, where fighting began more than a year ago, there is the Nevelskyi bulge, which presents a significant risk of encirclement from the flanks.

In my opinion, the situation is most critical. If we fail to hold the Zhelanne 1 and Zhelanne 2 line along the banks of the Vovcha River, we could face a major problem. The command may need to make a decision on withdrawing a significant portion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces west of the Vovcha River or…,» Lakiychuk added.