The Kremlin is striving to occupy Pokrovsk at any cost to demonstrate to Donald Trump Ukraine's "inability" to withstand the Russian offensive. This is reported by The Washington Post.
The authors of the publication specifically refer to the opinion of researcher Mykola Biletsky from the National Institute for Strategic Studies (Kyiv). He believes that in Putin's mind, the capture of Pokrovsk should be exactly what will "convince" the U.S. president of the "inevitability" of a Russian victory, as well as the "futility" of further assistance to Ukraine.
Dilemma for Kyiv
According to the expert, Kyiv finds itself facing a "very difficult dilemma." On one hand, the Ukrainian authorities must consider the political consequences of losing a city that could become an important victory for Russia, particularly in the diplomatic rather than military sphere. As the authors of the publication note, the capture of Pokrovsk will be the largest achievement for Russia since Bakhmut, which was occupied back in early 2023.
On the other hand, Kyiv needs to avoid excessive military losses and prevent critical depletion of its forces in battles at unfavorable fronts. In the past, the Ukrainian command has already been criticized for delayed decisions regarding the withdrawal of troops from Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
War after Pokrovsk
At the same time, military analysts say that from a military standpoint, leaving Pokrovsk will provide Ukraine with certain advantages. According to Finnish expert Emil Kastehelmi, the forces freed from Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad will be able to establish themselves at new positions just beyond the city limits. This will also simplify Ukrainian logistics.
"Ukraine's retreat from this area does not mean that Russia will automatically gain momentum that it can immediately exploit," he wrote on social media X, noting that preserving personnel is more important for Ukraine than holding territory at any cost.
Senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment Michael Kofman agrees, having recently visited Ukrainian troops near Pokrovsk.
"In the end, Pokrovsk is just another sector. The most important thing is for Ukraine to preserve its forces and avoid encirclement there," he said.
Fighting in Pokrovsk: Latest News
As reported by UNIAN, military observer Ivan Stupak qualifies the situation in Pokrovsk as a gradual loss of control over the city. He specifically commented on the recent operation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to raise the Ukrainian flag over the Pokrovsk city council.
In his opinion, this may temporarily boost the morale of the defenders, as it shows that the enemy does not control the city. However, this operation does not change the overall picture in the area, where Ukrainians are gradually losing control over the city.
