Russia has concentrated 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast. According to experts, this number is enough to attack a European country. However, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi says that Russian forces attempting to advance in the sector lost their momentum after Ukrainian counteractions, RBC reports.
On 11 August, the analytical project DeepState reported Russian advances in the Dobropillia area near Pokrovsk. However, in recent days the situation has begun to stabilize: Ukrainian defenders have regained several positions and cleared a number of settlements. This was made possible by the redeployment of one of the most combat-capable brigades, Azov, to this sector.
Russia’s “thousand cuts” tactic
According to Syrskyi, Russia has been employing the tactic of “a thousand cuts” — advancing with small assault groups across a broad front. Recently, the occupiers managed to push 10–12 km deep. However, the situation changed after the elite units were redeployed.
“We cleared settlements and key areas, and the enemy’s victorious mood turned into despair. Their social media posts once had the tone of ‘forward, victory,’ but now it’s ‘surrounded, the end,’” Syrskyi stresses.
Ukrainian counteractions and Russia’s failure in Sumy Oblast
Ukrainian troops continue clearing villages in the Pokrovsk direction, including with the use of robots with machine guns with by the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
In the Sumy Oblast, Syrskyi notes, Russian forces has also suffered a major setback.
“There was a Russian grouping there composed of their best units — airborne troops, marines, and motor rifle brigades. Yet Russia has had no success in the past two months,” he underlines.
Weapons of the future
Syrskyi emphasizes that the top priority for Ukraine’s armed forces now is drones and robotic systems.
“First and foremost, we are talking about aerial drones, especially those with elements of artificial intelligence. In addition, this year 15,000 ground robotic platforms of various types will enter service,” he said.
Commenting on Kremlin claims that Russia could fight for “three, five, or ten more years,” Syrskyi concluded: “I think that’s just bravado.”