A new threat has emerged for the Ukrainian army on the front in the Donetsk region, as Russian troops are trying to advance from both sides. BILD military analyst Julian Röpke reports that Russian forces have advanced from the northeast to the banks of the Kurakhiv Reservoir, while simultaneously advancing towards it from the southwest from the direction of Vugledar.
This strategic situation poses a threat to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ encirclement around the city of Kurakhove if Ukrainian forces fail to retreat. Röpke notes that the Russian army has already captured the village of Maksymivka in Donetsk Oblast. With Ukraine lacking reserves and a “second” line of defense in the area, the Russian advance continues at a rate of about 2 km per day, which increases the likelihood of a new cauldron.
According to analytical information, the Ukrainian military is likely to avoid this threat by a large-scale retreat from approximately 20 settlements located southeast of the village of Andriyivka. The situation remains tense, and further actions by both sides could significantly affect the development of the conflict.
