Russian forces are reportedly making strategic advancements near the city of Pokrovsk, according to a recent battlefield map.
The Kremlin appears to be intensifying its efforts to capture the crucial logistical hub of Pokrovsk, following Ukraine's unexpected incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6.
As reported by Newsweek, the Institute for the Study of War's (ISW) assessment of the Russian Offensive Campaign, published on Saturday, indicates that Moscow's troops made significant strides over the weekend. The forces are said to have advanced in eastern Karlivka and northeast of Mykolaivka, both southeast of Pokrovsk, on Friday. By Saturday, soldiers had reportedly moved into the southeastern outskirts of Novohrodivka, seizing the Novohrodivka City Council and Krasnyi Yar, both east of Pokrovsk. The ISW's assessment is based on geolocated footage and reports from Russian military bloggers.
The Ukrainian open-source intelligence site, Deep State, reported on Saturday that Moscow is persisting in its tactical success towards Pokrovsk, where an evacuation order has been issued. Russian troops are allegedly attempting to establish a foothold in high-rise buildings in Novohrodivka, while Kyiv is pushing back towards the village of Krasnyi Yar. The capture of Pokrovsk would be a strategic victory for Russia, given its status as a transportation hub with rail and road connections, and its proximity to the front line in the Donetsk region.
The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders has been assisting with the evacuation of vulnerable groups, including children, families, the elderly, and people with reduced mobility, from Pokrovsk and neighboring towns. Evacuees are being transported to the city of Dnipro, with some seeking refuge with relatives in safer regions, while others are turning to shelters for internally displaced people in the western parts of the country.
Raisa Epshtein, an 83-year-old resident from Myrnohrad, expressed her fear and distress, saying, "I left everything behind. It's terrifying; everyone is on edge. My hometown is being destroyed."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are continuing their mission across the border in the Kursk region. However, there are concerns that Kyiv may have overextended its troops, leaving vulnerabilities in Donetsk. Last Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his forces had seized control of a total of 1,250 square kilometers (482 square miles) of Russian territory and 92 settlements in the Kursk region.
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