Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps reports that weather conditions, particularly the dense fog, have encouraged Moscow to intensify its efforts to control the besieged city and block Ukrainian forces from regrouping.
Russian forces have spent more than a year attempting to capture Pokrovsk, which is crucial for strategic dominance in the region. Recent reports from Ukraine’s military suggest that between 300 and 500 Russian troops are now in the city, with President Volodymyr Zelensky remarking that the situation is dire.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's army chief, stated that the situation along the frontline in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has “significantly worsened,” particularly as three settlements have reportedly fallen.
Russian military activity has notably increased in Pokrovsk, with viral videos showcasing soldiers navigating the foggy terrain on civilian vehicles and motorcycles. A verification by the BBC confirmed the location in the southern outskirts of Pokrovsk.
A drone pilot named 'Goose' from the “Shershni Dovbusha” unit elaborated on how foggy conditions hampered aerial reconnaissance, allowing Russian forces to mobilize without immediate Ukrainian drone detection. This has led to an uptick in assaults that would typically have been thwarted swiftly.
While Ukrainian units have managed to identify and neutralize small advancing groups on foot and motorcycles, conditions have allowed Russian forces to infiltrate further. The pilot asserted that recent assaults had caused damage to Russian convoys, although poor visibility hampered monitoring crucial moments of these defenses.
Moreover, analyses suggest that Russian forces are attempting to encircle not only Pokrovsk but also neighboring Myrnohrad, leading to a precarious “cauldron” situation whereby Ukrainian forces face dire straits with increasingly limited supply routes.
Efforts by Ukrainian troops to halt Russian advances have yielded some successes, pushing back troops from locations like Suvorove and Rodynske, but logistical challenges remain significant as Russian forces target resupply efforts through infiltration tactics.
The broader conflict sees Russia escalating military efforts across various fronts, indicating a coordinated strategy despite Ukrainian resistance efforts and international oversight of the ongoing war.
