Have noticeable advancement. The Russian Federation is trying to lock the “pocket” of the Defense Forces of Ukraine near Toretsk to develop the offensive on Konstantinovka – ISW

This is stated in the new report by the Institute of War Study.

According to analysts, Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets stated on April 14 that recently units of the Russian 150th Motorized Rifle Division (The 8th Army of the Southern Military District Russian Federation)Oleksandropol, Panteleimonovka and Valentinivka were captured – settlements southwest of Toretsk. According to him, the occupiers were also pushed by Ukrainian troops from the positions located to the east of the H-20 Donetsk-Konstantinopil highway. On April 13 and 14, Russian Warriors also argued that Russian troops pushed Ukrainian forces from positions in the east of the H-20 highway, captured Valentinovka and stepped on a dry beam (To the north of Valentinivka).

According to Mashovets, the units of the Russian 8th All-Military Army continue to attack the forces (west from Alexandropol and east of Pokrovsk) in the direction of Nova Poltava and Novoleenivka (both northeast of Pokrovsk and west of Toretsk).

Infographics: ISW

ISW analysts remind you that in February 2025 the Russians threw off units of the 8th Army (In particular, subdivisions of the 20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions) From Kurakhiv direction to the Toretsky and eastern district of the Pokrovsky direction. Probably, the occupiers intended to use this strengthening of their troops to break through the Toretsk and move in the direction of Konstantinovka along or parallel to the T-0516 route Toretsk-Konstantinovka. After all, units of the Russian 51st Army Army (former 1st Army Corps “DNR), which previously operated in these two directions, could not break through the defense of Ukraine in the fall of 2024 and in the winter of 2024–2025. This is probably what prompted the Russian military command to transfer the forces of the 20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions here-potentially prematurely-to support the operational pace of the Russian offensive in these areas.

Since then, Russian troops have slightly advanced along the front line between the vozdvizhenka (to the northeast of Pokrovsk) and a dry beam in February and March 2025. However Since the beginning of April 2025, the invaders have reached more significant tactical advancements in the viburnum area and along the dry beam-Alexandropil line. Earlier wasw estimated that occupiers may seek to eliminate Ukrainian “pocket ”southwest of Toretsk [на мапі ISW на південь від Старої Миколаївки— прим. ред.]to compare your southern flank before the planned offensive on Konstantinovka. The recent release of Russian troops and the tactical actions of the invaders confirm this assessment.

“Pocket” south of Old Nikolaevka, which is written by ISW analysts, on the Deepstate / Infographic map: Deepstate

Russian troops probably intend to use the offensive southwest of Toretsk to move along the H-20 highway (Donetsk-Konstantinopil) and create conditions for deeper advancement northeast of Pokrovsk along the T-0504 highway Pokrovsk-Konstantinovka in the direction of Konstantinovka.

However, as ISW analysts resemble, before Russian troops create a noticeable threat to capture Ukrainian positions in Konstantinovka, the invaders should break through Toretsk, times of ravines, extend widely in the direction Konstantinovka. In addition, ISW predicts that the general Russian offensive for the purpose of capturing Konstantinovka or a wider strip of cities-fortresses of Ukraine in Donetsk region (Konstantinovka, Druzhkivka, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk) may probably last for years – provided that the event will continue to strengthen the defense of Ukraine.