If Pokrovsk falls: Expert explains where occupiers could unleash next assault
The loss of Pokrovsk would not fundamentally change the situation on the front line, as its capture is primarily needed by the Kremlin to achieve political rather than military goals.
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War in Ukraine
If Pokrovsk is seized, Russian occupation forces are expected to attempt advances to the north of Donetsk region.
This opinion was expressed by Pavlo Lakiichuk, Head of Security Projects at the Center for Global Studies «Strategy XXI», in an interview with Ukrainske Radio.
According to him, the main efforts of Russian troops would shift toward the Kostiantynivka axis, particularly to approach Kostiantynivka from the rear.
«Their main objective is the line of cities — Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk to the south, and Sloviansk to the north. That’s what they’re focusing on,» the expert said.
He added that the loss of Pokrovsk would not fundamentally alter the situation on the front line, as the city’s capture is important to the Kremlin mainly for political, not military, purposes.
«Political objectives outweigh military logic for the Russians. This is the only city they could realistically capture in the near future. And they need to demonstrate something as a result, ” Lakiichuk stressed.
The expert noted that Pokrovsk had previously played an important role in securing the flank of Ukrainian forces positioned around Kostiantynivka.
«Pokrovsk played a crucial military role in defending the rear and maintaining logistics routes from Dnipropetrovsk region to northern Donetsk, while Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kostiantynivka were still holding. Once Russian troops reached the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka highway, the city’s military significance began to decline, ” the expert explained.