The Russian army continues to rapidly advance to Pokrovsk, which is a key supply hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to The Washington Post, Russian troops have already moved closer to the city center, allowing them to strike most of Pokrovsk with artillery and drones.
This offensive shocked the local residents, who are in a hurry to leave Pokrovsk. Some of them admitted to the publication that they could not understand why the Ukrainian command withdrew troops from defensive positions to invade the Kursk region, especially given that the eastern front "desperately needs support."
An officer of the Armed Forces with the call sign "Baron", part of which is stationed in Pokrovsk, told the publication that he does not remember such intense battles since the fall of 2022. In the last week alone, his unit had retreated about ten kilometers.
"They go and go and go," the "Baron" complains. He added that his brigade lacks the men and equipment for a counterattack, so it is only conducting defensive operations around the city.
He, like other Ukrainian soldiers, hoped that the invasion of the Kursk region would distract the Russian troops. But the offensive in the east has only intensified in recent days. "We are fighting only to survive," noted the "Baron".
