Thick fog has facilitated the movement of Russian troops into the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s 7th Airborne Assault Corps, the weather conditions have prompted increased Russian attempts to encircle Ukrainian forces in the area. The Russians have been attempting to seize Pokrovsk for over a year, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the fog has aided Russian attacks, making the situation challenging for Ukrainian defenses.
Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that the situation in the southeastern Zaporzhzhia region has “significantly worsened,” with Ukrainian forces losing control of three settlements. Syrskyi indicated that the Russian military is most active around Pokrovsk. A video circulating on social media shows Russian soldiers traveling through a foggy area in civilian vehicles. The BBC confirmed the video’s location as the southern outskirts of Pokrovsk.
A Ukrainian drone pilot from the “Shershni Dovbusha” unit highlighted that the fog has hampered aerial reconnaissance, which had allowed Russian forces to launch assaults using vehicle columns that would typically be targeted by Ukrainian drones. The pilot stated that while his unit consistently detected and engaged small Russian groups, the fog limited their ability to monitor actions during the recent attack depicted in the viral video.
The 7th Corps reported approximately 300 Russian soldiers currently in Pokrovsk, with indications that this number has likely increased. Mapping by the Ukraine-based monitoring group DeepState shows Russian forces closing in on various parts of Pokrovsk, with some observers suggesting that the city could soon be captured.
Moscow aims to encircle both Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Myrnohrad, a tactic referred to as creating a “cauldron.” Ukrainian troops have reportedly pushed back Russian forces from adjacent areas to create distance between flanks, but Russian forces continue to target supply routes using both ground troops and aerial attacks. Ukrainian military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets noted that Russians are focusing on disrupting the operations of Ukrainian FPV pilots, which complicates defense efforts. The Kremlin is also seeking advances at other locations, including Kupyansk and Zaporzhzhya.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx276px3280o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss