– We know what the enemy is trying to do, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a televised speech yesterday. Violent fighting and bloody attacks have prompted the Ukrainian authorities to order the evacuation of Pokrovsk in the east of the country. 53,000 people must now flee their homes. The residents of Pokrovsk have two weeks to evacuate. 9-year-old Bohdan Scherbyna, 9, has fled with his mother Maryna Scherbyna and sister Angelina Scherbyna. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP Videos from the city, located in Donetsk Oblast, show large queues of people trying to get away from the intense Russian attacks. – We are strengthening our defence, said the president. The Russian forces advance east of the city. What has happened and how does it look on the ground now? A man stands on the train platform in Pokrovsk city, on Monday this week. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP – It is difficult to say anything about the situation, it is colored by those who send the information, says Palle Ydstebø, lieutenant colonel and head of the section for land power at the War College. – But it is critical on the Ukrainian side, says Ydstebø. Keeping the cards close to the chest The American think tank ISW believes that Russian forces have advanced approximately two square kilometers per day in the Pokrovsk region over the past six months. – They are evacuating civilians and it is uncertain how long they can last without having to reinforce with other forces. Ukraine has struggled to get supplies from the West, says Palle Ydstebø. In his speech yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyj reminded his allies to continue providing arms supplies to Ukraine. – This is absolutely necessary to defend ourselves, he said. Ukraine keeps its cards close to its chest, explains Ydstebø. – They are sparing with the information, so that the Russians will not pick it up. On the Russian side, the lieutenant colonel believes that it is also uncertain how long the Russians can keep up the intense pressure. Ukrainian soldiers rest near Pokrovsk, in the Donbas region, earlier in August. Photo: AFP – The Russian forces may take a couple of weeks, perhaps longer, before they reach the outskirts of Pokrovsk. Once they do, battles begin in densely built-up areas, it’s even more difficult. So this can take a long time. Strategically important city – Why are the Russians trying to gain control of Pokrovsk? – Pokrovsk is an important communication hub. It is here that several important roads and railways meet, and here Ukrainian forces receive supplies, Ydstebø explains – If Russia succeeds in taking the strategically important city, it could choke the Ukrainian forces and make it easier for Russia to take control of all of Donetsk county. Russia will control the Donetsk and Luhansk counties that make up the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. – The Russians will occupy Donetsk and Luhansk as their revised objective after they had to withdraw from northern Ukraine in April 2022. Pokrovsk is therefore important to get a good road network for further operations and now further into Ukraine. There have been great losses of both people and material, says the lieutenant colonel. – The Russians are also putting pressure on other places in Donetsk county. The situation is serious in Pokrovsk. In a couple of weeks at the earliest, we will see if the Russians have managed to take Pokrovsk. It’s slow and sluggish attack. Published 22.08.2024, at 19.21
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Fierce battles at a strategically important city in Ukraine – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
