Russia will continue to focus its efforts in two sectors – Pokrovsk and Dobropillia – in the coming weeks, according to Maj. Gen. Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff.
He said in an interview with Ukrinform that the situation on the battlefield remains difficult. The Kremlin’s forces are storming Ukrainian positions with a five- to six-fold superiority in manpower and equipment numbers.
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“The enemy is conducting offensive actions along the entire line of contact in 13 main operational axes, averaging 160-190 assault waves per day,” Hnatov said.
The tensest situation remains in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces, supported by aviation, artillery, and the wide use of lethal attack drones, are conducting high-intensity assaults.
Russia is attempting to seize Chasiv Yar and Toretsk, setting the conditions to encircle Kostyantynivka from multiple directions, and capture the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration.
“Currently, the enemy is trying to infiltrate small groups into the rear of our forces, accumulate there, and then push the offensive further,” Hnatov said.
In response, Ukrainian forces continue to mount counterattacks to regain lost positions and eliminate Russian infiltrators in their rear.
“In general, despite significant losses in personnel, weapons, and equipment, the enemy refuses to halt offensive actions. Developments in other sectors, such as Zaporizhzhia, will depend on events near Pokrovsk,” Hnatov said.
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He said that weather is a major factor: heavy rain reduces mobility and limits maneuvering on the battlefield. Still, Russia is likely to persist with its current operations.
Col. Maksym Bakulin, press officer of the National Guard’s 14th Operational Brigade “Chervona Kalyna,” said the situation near Pokrovsk is changing dramatically.
According to him, poor weather conditions – strong winds and overcast skies – are preventing Russian forces from effectively using drones, while mass infantry assaults are resulting in heavy losses.
He added that both Russian and Ukrainian forces must adapt to these conditions. But, Russia faces additional problems when relying on mass infantry assaults.
Bakulin said that when Russian forces advance en masse with infantry, they don’t have time to bring up supporting firepower.
“And now we see that they are losing a huge number of personnel every day. They are now breaking bad. They are surrounded, they have huge losses, and they have problems with logistics,” he said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Russia is employing “a thousand cuts” tactics in the Dobropillia and Novopavlivka sectors – sending numerous small assault groups of 4-6 soldiers through terrain features such as ravines and tree lines to penetrate Ukrainian defenses.
Syrsky also reported Ukrainian advances in the Dobropillia area, where some Russian units were encircled.
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