«Not head-on»: Zhmailo reveals how Russia tries to encircle Pokrovsk

Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Kupiansk remain key flashpoints on the front — the enemy is not storming them head-on but trying to encircle them and disrupt logistics.

Zhmailo stated this during a broadcast on Espreso.

According to him, the situation on the Pokrovsk axis is escalating: the Russians have concentrated over 100,000 troops there and are advancing not frontally but through attempts to encircle from the eastern side.

«The enemy decided not to storm Pokrovsk head-on. Isolated sabotage and reconnaissance groups (SRGs) did infiltrate the city, but according to the military, the clearing operations were successful. Instead, the Russians are trying to bypass the city from the east — in the area of Rodynske, northwest of Myrnohrad,» Zhmailo says.

In his assessment, the occupiers aim to reach the settlements of Shevchenko and Novooleksandrivka, then attempt to encircle the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration and force Ukrainian forces to abandon their positions.

The situation around Kostiantynivka also appears threatening. The enemy is trying to exert pressure near Yablunivka, is advancing from Toretsk, and continues attempts to break through toward Chasiv Yar.

«There, the enemy faces the greatest difficulty — we control the western part of Chasiv Yar, which blocks their movement. At the same time, both sides are focused on the logistics battle. Today it’s harder to conduct troop rotations or deliver ammunition than to hold positions themselves — drones operate around the clock,» the expert explains.

Regarding Kupiansk, Zhmailo notes that the situation remains tense, although Russian advance rates there are the lowest among the three critical directions.

«The Russians have not entered Kupiansk but are trying to bypass the city from the west, creating a threat to our grouping east of the Oskil River. However, due to constant strikes on their logistics over the river, the pace of force buildup in this area is very slow,» he said.

The expert also adds that Ukrainian counteroffensive actions continue in the Sumy region and in the Zaporizhzhia direction. In the Vovchansk direction, the Russians have managed to advance only in the forestry area.

«We definitely have a chance to hold out. However, the most significant escalation should be expected this summer specifically on the Pokrovsk axis. Battles for Kostiantynivka will likely begin in the fall. But the situation on the Kupiansk axis is the hardest to predict,» Zhmailo concluded.