MP Roman Kostenko says Ukrainian units in Mirnohrad, Donetsk region, have been pushed into an operational encirclement. Russian control of the skies and key logistics routes is complicating deliveries of food and ammunition to frontline troops.
Kostenko, a member of parliament and secretary of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, discussed the battle for Mirnohrad on the Pokrovsk axis during a Radio Svoboda broadcast.
He drew a distinction between operational and tactical encirclement, saying that under military regulations, troops in an operational encirclement can still maneuver within the area where the enemy has boxed them in. “I call it ‘operational encirclement’ based on how I see the map. Tactical encirclement is when the enemy is fully closed in and cannot even move within the encircled area because they’re completely under fire. Operational encirclement, simply put, is when you can move within the area where you’re surrounded, conduct certain actions, redeploy units—but getting into that area or delivering provisions or logistics is no longer possible,” Kostenko said.
He stressed that “operational encirclement” is his characterization and that only Ukraine’s General Staff can provide a formal assessment. “I’m talking about what I see on DeepState maps. There is no encirclement—neither operational nor tactical—in the old sense of a complete closure; that’s a fact. But in terms of the enemy’s control of the air and logistics, as far as I know, the situation there is very difficult,” he added, noting that Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold positions in the city despite the pressure.
According to the DeepState map as of December 22, Mirnohrad is in the “gray zone.”
As of 8:00 on December 23, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Ukrainian Forces had stopped 58 Russian assault and offensive actions on the Pokrovsk axis, including in the Mirnohrad area.
Operational Command “East” said as of 10:00 on December 23 that Ukrainian units continue to hold defensive lines in Mirnohrad and are destroying Russian forces on the approaches to the city.
“Additional logistics routes to Pokrovsk and Mirnohrad are being organized to ensure uninterrupted supply for our units and timely evacuation,” the command reported.
DeepState analysts said on December 20 that Mirnohrad had shifted into a “gray zone,” meaning control of the city required clarification. Operational Command “East,” for its part, maintained that Ukrainian troops were holding defensive lines and eliminating Russian forces on the approaches to the city.
On December 15, Operational Command “East” said new logistics routes to Pokrovsk and Mirnohrad had been organized, though the situation remained difficult.
