Civilians are evacuated from Pokrovsk, due to the rapid advance of Russian troops (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo\/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nDespite all the problems, the fall of Pokrovsk may be looming, but might not be immediate, said Tatarigami.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes this mean that the loss of Pokrovsk is imminent?\u201d he asked rhetorically. \u201cNo, but the likelihood is increasing due to the balance of forces. Despite Ukrainian efforts to draw Russian forces away with the Kursk incursion, Russian leadership is hesitant to redeploy significant forces from Pokrovsk.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would be impossible to examine the real possibility that a strategically important town in Ukraine may pass into Russians hands without factoring in the Kursk operation to the discussion. Thousands of troops and their equipment have been committed to that offensive, and the idea that those resources could have been used better to defend Ukrainian territory will only be subject to a growing debate if Pokrovsk falls.<\/p>\n
One reason Ukraine invaded Russia\u2019s Kursk Oblast with about 10,000 troops, including some of its best units and vehicles, was to draw troops out of the Pokrvosk area. However, that did not seem to happen, a former high-ranking Ukrainian officer told us.<\/p>\n
\u201cKursk did not work well regarding this direction,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Russians have probably read us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Ukraine \u201chas options to stabilize the line, including deploying new brigades, repositioning forces from Kursk and Kharkiv, or reallocating battalions from more stable fronts,\u201d Tatarigami concluded. \u201cHowever, time is against the defenders, and there is a risk of a serious operational catastrophe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n