The intensity of combat in the Pokrovsk direction has decreased due to preparations by russian troops for a large-scale summer offensive campaign. This opinion was expressed in a comment to “OstroV by military expert Roman Svitan.
“For russians, the offensive on Pokrovsk is a campaign that cannot be completed in a month. Further pressure in this direction is not tied to May 9, so they postponed a serious attack until summer”, - he noted.
According to Roman Svitan, the main goal of russia in the summer campaign is the capture of key cities in the Donetsk oblast.
“Their summer military campaign will be aimed at the full capture of Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and advancing toward Dobropillia”, - the expert explained.
He added that russian troops are currently “forming conditions” for the future offensive.
“Right now they are creating so-called ‘staging areas’ for this. To the west of Pokrovsk — the Hryshyne area, where the main fighting continues. And from the north and northeast, they are trying to advance toward Rodynske”, - said Roman Svitan.
The expert noted that such actions are aimed at encircling Ukrainian forces and further advancing.
“Reaching these points effectively allows them to close an operational encirclement of the Pokrovsk garrison and provides the opportunity to move further toward Dobropillia”, - he emphasized.
At the same time, he stressed that the decrease in the intensity of fighting is temporary and related to the regrouping of forces.
“The intensity of combat has decreased, but not to zero. A reconfiguration for the summer military campaign is underway. In the spring, they are trying to achieve results by May 9 in other directions, in particular around Kostiantynivka, and in the summer they will focus on Pokrovsk”, - Roman Svitan concluded.