The Russians slowed down the siege of Pokrovsk but the Ukrainians were under no illusions. Moscow troops slowed down waiting for reinforcements and new means to launch a new attack. The city of Donetsk remains a priority target for the Russian army: Vladimir Putin ‘demands’ conquest however, after 3 and a half years of war, it would have more symbolic than concrete value. The strategy of the attacking army did not change. Attacks in waves, without thinking about heavy losses, and parallel actions of mini-teams trying to infiltrate behind enemy lines while the drones continue to attack.
What has changed in the last few days
The picture has partly changed in recent days, as highlighted by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American think tank that has been monitoring the conflict since its early stages. Based on geolocalized video analysis, it appears that Russian troops are advancing slightly east of Pokrovsk, in the Myrnohrad area. In general, the advance of the Moscow department was not accompanied by a consolidation of positions. Ukrainian drones continue to attack and the region remains a ‘grey zone’ where control is very fragile.
The Kiev Army, according to ISW, has gathered elements related to the enemy’s voluntary braking. Russian troops slowed down their offensive operations towards Pokrovsk while waiting for reinforcements and vehicles, which will reach the southern areas of the city. Everything indicates that there will be an acceleration in the coming days.
Putin wants a cosmetic victory: Pokrovsk is pointless
“We were almost surrounded, but we’re used to it,” a Ukrainian commander told CNN. “The situation was complicated, there were various clashes and shootings with various types of weapons.” Russia has been eyeing Pokrovsk for almost 2 years. The city is a fundamental logistics center, a control center for transport routes and supplies. But now the situation has changed. And, according to ISW, the conquest or loss of these ‘fortresses’ had no impact on the development of the war. “From an operational point of view, this doesn’t make sense”said George Barros, ISW analyst, expressing his opinion about the heavy losses the Russians were willing to accept to take the city.
“Operationally, they are important because they control supply lines that support Ukrainian logistics, and spread out to other positions in small villages and camps around Pokrovsk,” Barros said. Kiev has long been forced to look for other solutions. In essence, Moscow has achieved its real goal. “Russia has achieved what they set out to do. From now on, continuing it makes no sense,” stressed the analyst.
Why does Moscow insist?
So why does Moscow insist? Because Pokrovsk would be the largest city conquered after Bakhmut in May 2023. Although around 60,000 people lived in the center before the war, around 1,200 civilians now remain in the ruins. “From a strategic, political and information point of view, Pokrovsk is very important, because Putin has repeatedly spoken about conquering the city. He is carrying out a strategic information campaign aimed at presenting Russia’s military victory on the battlefield as inevitable,” Berros added.
There is also a flip side: Ukraine continues to defend its symbolic city, which requires huge efforts from its troops, forced to fight in lower numbers and without the possibility of rotations similar to those of Russia. “There was no order to retreat, although everyone already understood that the fall of Pokrovsk was inevitable. Pokrovsk has been defended for a very long time. But the soldiers were exhausted and reinforcements were not sent in time,” bitterly summarized a Ukrainian soldier on CNN.
