Russian troops are preparing for the blockade of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd – ISW

The Russians are planning to cut the land supply routes to Pokrovsk and Mirnograd in the Donetsk region, with the aim of forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat from these cities.

Source: ISW

Literally: “Russian forces likely intend to cut Ukrainian ground supply lines to Pokrovsk and Mirnograd in order to force Ukrainian units out of these cities in the coming months. Routes T-0405 and T-0406 are two of the three main ground routes to support the Ukrainian group in the area Pokrovska-Myrnohrada, which run from east to west”.

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Details: In their report, analysts of the Institute for the Study of War note that the advance of Russian troops to the east and west of Pokrovsk may complicate logistics and the ability of Ukrainian troops to replenish supplies and redeploy troops.

The advance of Russian troops to the east and west of Pokrovsk could seriously complicate the situation for Ukrainian forces, forcing the Ukrainian defenders to retreat to the north, which would allow the Russian occupiers to surround Pokrovsk and Mirnograd. This will also allow the Russians to advance to the administrative border between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Analysts suggest that the Russian military command probably hopes to avoid frontal attacks on the urban areas of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd with large numbers of infantry.

ISW writes that the blockade of these cities increases the likelihood of retreat of Ukrainian troops, which will allow the Russians to capture these settlements without heavy urban battles.

Key findings:

• Russian forces recently cut the T-0405 Pokrovsk-Kostyantynovka east of Pokrovsk and T-0406 Pokrovsk-Mezhov southwest of Pokrovsk as part of their efforts to encircle Pokrovsk and Mirnograd.
• Russian forces likely intend to cut Ukrainian land lines of communication in Pokrovsk and Mirnograd in order to force Ukrainian units out of those cities in the coming months.
• Russian state energy corporation Gazprom has admitted it is considering cutting its head office by 40%, indicating that Gazprom may be concerned about the long-term effects that the war in Ukraine and cuts in Russian gas exports to Europe will have on Russia’s gas industry.
• Russian troops advanced in the direction of Kharkiv, Borova, Pokrovsk, Kurakhovo and Velika Novosilka.
• South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that North Korea’s losses in the Kursk region amounted to about 3,000 killed and wounded.