Regular units of the Russian Armed Forces - not just sabotage and reconnaissance teams—are operating on the streets of Pokrovsk, a military analyst said. Russian units have pushed up to 10 kilometers into the city, and in his view, Ukraine’s Defense Forces may have to withdraw to avoid being encircled.
Russian units control a section of a key road in Pokrovsk, military analyst and former SBU officer Ivan Stupak said on the Kyiv 24 broadcast. He also noted that the Russians are using urban utility and communications maps in Ukrainian cities to gain an advantage.
Stupak was responding to a question about the training level of Russians infiltrating Pokrovsk, given that “professionals” are operating against Ukrainian forces in Sumy region. He said regular units, not small sabotage-reconnaissance groups, are now active in the city.
“They have already been present in the city of Pokrovsk for a certain period of time - at different scales, with varying effectiveness and success - but they are present,” he said on air.
The current battle map shows Russian forces have taken physical control of one of the two roads running through Pokrovsk, he added. He said a 10-kilometer “pocket” has formed in the city, posing a danger to Ukrainian troops. In his view, the Defense Forces will likely need to pull back to avoid encirclement.
“This is a very critical indicator, and it means we may need to consider leaving the city of Pokrovsk - or at least abandoning those positions currently held by our troops—so as not to be surrounded,” Stupak said.
Stupak also pointed to Russian use of urban communications plans in Ukrainian cities—for example, infiltrating through pipelines in Kupyansk. According to him, maps of Ukrainian cities exist in Russian archives, and Russian generals “did good work” and are now using that information in combat. Meanwhile, Ukraine lacks such maps, and there are no longer local experts who can brief troops on that infrastructure, he said.
