The plans of the Russian Federation for the complete capture of Donbas by November were thwarted due to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Dobropil direction during the summer. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conversation with media representatives.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Challenging situation around Dobropillia and Pokrovsk
Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the operation near Dobropillia as extremely complex, yet timely and successful. He emphasized that after significant losses in this area, the Russian command set its troops the task of capturing Pokrovsk as quickly as possible, regardless of the cost.
“Understanding that they have suffered heavy losses near Dobropillia, the Russians have now been tasked with urgently capturing Pokrovsk – at any cost. This is what we understand from intercepts and other data. In recent days, the Russians have been losing over 100 of their personnel per day, reaching up to 200,” the president was quoted by the Ukrinform agency.
According to the president, the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Dobropillia also disrupted plans that the Russian side had informed the United States about. As a result, Zelensky believes that Washington no longer trusts the Kremlin’s statements regarding the situation at the front.
Issues with drones and the role of Pokrovsk
The head of state emphasized that Ukrainian forces are significantly lacking drones, while Russian forces have an advantage in drones on fiber-optic channels. According to him, Ukraine is actively working to enhance its own capabilities in this area.
In September, British intelligence noted that Pokrovsk remains a key logistical hub in Donetsk and a primary target of Russian offensive operations. It is Pokrovsk that is holding back Russia’s further advance in the Donetsk region, as well as towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Additionally, on October 1, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Ukrainian forces managed to break through the so-called “Dobropil bulge” of Russian forces, which was an important step in stabilizing the situation in the region.