Ukrainian forces continue their withdrawal near Pokrovskin the eastern region of Donetskdespite which they manage to cause high casualties to the enemy and limit the advance of the attacking troops.
Between one third and one half of all robberies carried out by Russia in Ukraine In recent days there have been incidents in this area, where Moscow has been trying to add new successes after taking Avdivka y Ocheretinefive and three months ago respectively.
Over the past week, Russia has conquered the towns of Progres y Vovche and has since advanced several kilometres along the railway line westwards, towards the important logistical hub of Pokrovsk.
“This is the most difficult part of the front right now. The Russian tactic is to look for weak points in our defense and then hit them with all their might.”he told EFE from the area Yana Statnaa well-known civilian volunteer who helps equip the Army with drones and provides basic supplies to the remaining civilians.
Russian offensive
«The assaults never cease as Russia throws more and more of its people forward»Statna notes that the enemy uses artillery, aviation and drones to attack both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
In an effort to stem the Russian advance, Statna and his fellow volunteers have supplied Ukrainian units with more than 6,000 drones acquired through crowdfunding campaigns.
Small FPV suicide drones, operated by pilots on the ground and exploding on impact with their target, have been particularly effective in repelling Russian assaults.
However, demand for these devices – of which just one of the units Statna works with uses more than 100 a day – far exceeds supply.
“It is very difficult to fight this enemy, because, unfortunately, Russia has the advantage in terms of personnel, equipment, weapons and even these drones.”señala Statna.
Russian attacks continue to devastate towns and cities in the area, where residents have little way of escaping the hundreds of guided air bombs Russia drops every week.
«Places that were full of life a few months ago, even despite the war, are now being destroyed»Statna regrets, calling for redoubled efforts to strengthen Ukrainian defences in the area.
Advances of Russian forces
Although conditions in the area remain difficult, Ukrainian military experts downplay the impact of the Russian advances in the Pokrovsk area on the situation at the front.
Russia’s seizure of Ocheretine came after the Ukrainian military command made costly mistakes when preparing to rotate its forces there, amid long delays in the delivery of crucial military equipment by Kiev’s allies, Oleksandr Kovalenko, of the non-governmental group ‘Information Resistance’, told EFE.
However, overall Russian progress since Moscow launched its major offensive nine months ago is limited, as it is restricted to 50-60 meters per day at great cost to the attacking side, the expert notes.
Retired Ukrainian Colonel Sergui Grabski He also believes that the Russian advance towards Pokrovsk, although worrying, does not amount to the “collapse of the front.”
“Our task now is to stop the enemy’s advance as much as possible, which we are doing quite actively,” he told Ukrainian radio ‘NV’, adding that this gives Ukraine time to strengthen defenses on the road to Pokrovsk.
Kovalenko expects Russia’s ability to sustain the offensive to decline by late 2024 due to difficulties in producing or refurbishing enough heavy weapons, such as tanks, to offset its high losses in Ukraine.
Much may also depend on the success of the current Ukrainian mobilization to eliminate the manpower shortage, while public opinion has also been paying more attention to the need to improve the quality of military command. EFE (I)
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