Russian forces are progressing swiftly towards Pokrovsk, accelerating their movement.
While encountering challenges in the Russian region of Kursk, the military brass persists in pushing ahead in Pokrovsk, Donbass. Generally, the military forces in eastern Ukraine have been inching forward at a snail's pace for months, but there's buzz about a stepped-up tempo nearby.
Military analysts suggest that Russian forces are sweeping through the Pokrovsk front at a brisk pace in eastern Ukraine. As per a report by the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW), they've managed to seize the majority of Novohrodivka, a town located south of Pokrovsk, within a few days.
According to the ISW, the Russian forces are now prioritizing clashes along a railway track towards Pokrovsk. Experts assume that the swift Russian advance in Novohrodivka might be attributed to a Ukrainian pullback from the area.
As military specialist Colonel Reisner told ntv.de, "The occupation of Pokrovsk in Donbass is the aim of the Russian summer offensive. In Donbass, the three groups 'Centr', 'Yug', and 'Vostok' are attacking across a front of almost 300 kilometers. With these troops, the Russians aim to breach the second defensive line and, if possible, force a breakthrough at Pokrovsk," Reisner added.
Kyiv orders evacuations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting with the military brass regarding the situation. Russian troops have recently claimed victory in capturing entire towns in the Donetsk area. Authorities in Ukraine have also mandated further evacuations.
Due to the deteriorating safety conditions, the mandatory evacuation zone has broadened. Children and their parents or legal guardians are required to vacate their residences, as the governor of Donetsk announced.
A total of 27 towns in the Kostyantynivka and Selydove regions are included in the list. Previous evacuation orders had been issued in the Pokrovsk area owing to the advance of Russian troops.
The escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine, with Russian forces making significant gains in wars and conflicts, have led to Kyiv ordering evacuations. The Russian summer offensive, as military specialist Colonel Reisner mentioned, aims to capture Pokrovsk in Donbass, causing concern for the safety of residents in nearby towns.
