Russian troops are trying to encircle Pokrovsk, but they lack the forces to storm it head-on – Khortytsia operational-strategic group.
Russian troops are bypassing Pokrovsk in Donetsk region from the west, attempting to encircle it, stated Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the operational-strategic group of troops “Khortytsia,” during a broadcast on Radio Svoboda (project Svoboda.Ranok).
According to Radio Svoboda, Trehubov said that this is the tactic being used by Russian forces because they lack the resources to storm Pokrovsk head-on.
“The Russians simply do not have the resources to break into the city head-on, as they did earlier in other settlements. First, they have significantly depleted their resources, they have exhausted what they had, and second, let’s be honest, Pokrovsk is not some small village… Right now, they are trying to take settlements one by one, ‘biting off’ small villages to encircle the city. It’s absolutely clear: if they had the ability to storm Pokrovsk head-on, they would have done it,” Trehubov said.
He added that the Russian army is attempting to cut off roads and logistical supply lines.
When asked if the number of Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front had increased, as previously mentioned in a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Trehubov stated that “the number has changed,” but refused to provide further details.
“…The number has slightly changed (referring to the forces – ed.) due to redeployment from the Kurakhiv sector, but I won’t specify. Essentially, let’s say, the pressure in our entire area of responsibility hasn’t changed significantly,” the spokesperson noted.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with Polish media, stated that the most challenging situation on the front lines is in eastern Ukraine, where there is currently a large concentration of Russian troops and equipment, and where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered. The President added that there is a lack of assistance on the front, and according to him, the issue is not primarily about the number of people – currently, there are brigades that are only 60-70% equipped with weapons due to delays in the supply of aid from Ukraine’s partners.
According to the Institute for the Study of War’s observations on January 13, Russian troops are cutting off roads to the east and west of Pokrovsk in attempts to encircle the city.
The DeepState project and the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the Russian army, in the early days of 2025, is actively capturing new territories to the south, southeast, and east of Pokrovsk.
Tags: donetsk oblast Pokrovsk pokrovsk direction Russia russia ukraine war Ukraine war
