Russians try to encircle Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces are not making a frontal assault on the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, but are trying to bypass and encircle the city.

Source: Major Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote: "There are no battles in the city, the Russians have not reached the city limits, but they are trying to surround it through neighbouring settlements and villages, penetrate in certain groups, accumulate forces and continue to attack in order to bypass the city. In addition, the active operation of UAVs, the active operation of everything that the Russians have now, is also concentrated in the area of the city of Pokrovsk."

Details: Trehubov explained that the city of Pokrovsk is quite large and fortified, so the Russians do not want to launch a frontal assault. The Russians are also involved in urban battles in other areas, such as Chasiv Yar and Kurakhove.

Trehubov added that the Russians were not counting on fighting in Pokrovsk, but were trying to bypass the city and break the infrastructure chains.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders hampered 38 Russian assaults and offensive actions on the Pokrovsk front, which remains one of the hottest areas of the front line.

Background:

• Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested in a report on 8 December that the Kremlin was likely to continue its attempts to capture the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, despite significant human and material losses.
• Due to Russia’s invasion and the escalation of the situation in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, natural gas supplies to the population were cut off.

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