Pokrovsk's lifeline in danger, Ukraine urgently builds fortress to defend

(Dan Tri) - Russia is closing in on Ukraine's logistical and economic lifeline in Donbass, forcing Kiev to step up its defenses to prevent the scenario of losing its strategic position.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a Caesar self-propelled gun towards Russian troops, on the outskirts of Pokrovsk (Photo: Reuters).

Russian forces are now 6.7km from Pokrovsk and Ukraine is partially blockaded the city to actively build defensive fortifications, according to Serhii Dobriak, head of the city's Military Administration.

"The construction of defense structures has started since 2022 and a combat brigade is stationed in the city. According to this defense plan, we are setting up additional fortifications inside the city. People are witnessing this, so we are once again calling on them to evacuate because the city will soon be completely sealed off," he said.

He said Ukraine has not sealed off all of Pokrovsk, but specific areas will be restricted from entering. Some defense lines have been built, and parts of streets and residential areas have been sealed off.

He confirmed that the city has no running water, although there is drinking water. About 60% of Pokrovsk still has electricity. The city still has some family doctors, a city hospital and the wounded are being transported to Dobropillia. Small shops, a market, postal services and ATMs that process cash are still working. The administrative service center is still open.

However, local authorities are advising residents to evacuate before winter arrives as the city no longer has central heating and fighting is imminent.

Pokrovsk is strategically located in the East (Photo: BBC).

Mr Dobriak’s announcement came after Russia claimed it had taken control of the nearby town of Selydove. While Ukraine has not officially confirmed the claims, an expert told the Kyiv Independent that Selydove had indeed fallen.

The loss of Selydove is bad news for Pokrovsk, which lies just 18km to the northwest. Russian forces have been steadily advancing towards Pokrovsk over the past few months, in a pincer-like approach.

Mr Dobriak said 80% of the city’s infrastructure had been destroyed. To date, 11,900 people, including 55 children, remain in Pokrovsk. Evacuation operations are ongoing. Before the fighting broke out in 2022, Pokrovsk had a population of 60,000.

As fighting raged on the outskirts of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian officials repeatedly described the situation in the area as “difficult.” Some Western media outlets also warned that the loss of Pokrovsk would not only hamper the Ukrainian military’s logistical operations in Donbass, but would also deal a serious blow to the country’s economy, as the Pokrovsk region serves as a major source of coal for Ukraine’s steel and iron industry.

Pokrovsk lies on a key route that the Ukrainian army uses to resupply other outposts such as the towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. Russia sees control of Pokrovsk as an important stepping stone to capturing the entire Donetsk region.

Control of the city, considered the “gateway to Donetsk,” would allow Moscow to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines along the eastern front and intensify its campaign to control Chasiv Yar. The city has a higher geographical position and offers the possibility of controlling a larger area.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/huyet-mach-pokrovsk-lam-nguy-ukraine-cap-tap-dung-phao-dai-co-thu-20241031100612876.htm