Despite the recent incursion of Ukrainian troops into the Kursk region, which was supposed to relieve pressure on Donbas, Russia continues to demonstrate successes in its campaign in eastern Ukraine. The latest news suggests that the key city of Pokrovsk, located in the industrial region of Donbas, is subject to evacuation as Ukrainian forces face increasing pressure from Russian troops.
According to The Times, Ukrainian military commanders say that despite successes on other fronts, the situation in the Pokrovsk area is critical. The military notes that the lack of necessary artillery, new Russian tactics, including the use of glide bombs and electronic warfare, and the numerical superiority of the enemy significantly complicate the situation. Captain Dzvenislava Rymar from the 47th brigade noted that Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted and need reinforcements, as the Russians outnumber them.
Last week, the Kyiv government ordered the forced evacuation of Pokrovska to protect civilians. Maria Pryazhnikova, an 88-year-old widow who survived the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II, was forced to leave her town after a 20-hour journey in a crowded train. Also among the refugees were Kateryna Golentovska and her daughter, and Svitlana Lastovchenko, who saw her apartment building reduced to rubble during rocket fire.
While civilians continue to be evacuated in Ukraine, Russian forces are making progress in seizing new territory. If Pokrovsk falls, it would be the biggest defeat for Ukrainian forces since the capture of Bakhmut in May last year. The local administration has already left the city, and its 53,000 residents are bracing for the worst.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military continues to be active in the northwest, where a recent incursion into the Kursk region has forced Russian forces to go on the defensive. The incursion has “greatly boosted the morale” of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, says Lieutenant Mykhailo Luzhetsky. However, questions remain: will this be a strategic advantage or simply a temporary distraction from the escalating situation in Donbas?.
Analysts believe that the invasion of the Kursk region could be either an act of genius or an act of desperation. “Ukraine was forced to change the narrative to show that, despite the losses in the east, it is still capable of inflicting damage on the enemy,” said analyst Matthew Saville of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Depending on further actions, this strategic maneuver could affect Ukraine’s international support and its ability to cope with Russian aggression.
