Threats of the environment and the fight for key nodes: the analyst assessed the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Donbass

The operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is characterized by attempts to bypass Pokrovsk and enter the rear of the Ukrainian army, which creates the risk of a new environment and a further deterioration of the situation for Ukraine. However, in terms of martial arts, the Kremlin is called by experts, to put it mildly, the question. The situation on the Eastern Front refers to the analytical material of Defense24 of January 16.

Polish military expert Michal Brushevsky notes that the creation of a speech on the southern flank of the Pokrovsky direction, where occupation troops try to expand the bridgehead and develop the offensive - is the stupidity of the RF leadership. The fact is that if Ukraine's defense forces had reserves, as in 2022, Russian troops would be in a catastrophic position, risking being surrounded by Ukrainian forces.

However, the depletion of the Ukrainian army makes it possible for the enemy to maintain the initiative, despite the great losses, with the threat of the boiler. In order to stop the breakthroughs of the Russians, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Yuri Butusov's military, took emergency measures, suspending the formation of new brigades to focus all available reserves on the existing fronts.

This decision confirms the critical situation on the front line, where even the technical services of aviation are involved in the battle. In 2024, Brushevsky continues, Russia has advanced to the West for more than 30 kilometers, although this is not a significant achievement by the standards of military science. At the same time, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation demonstrates significant progress against the background of previous campaigns.

However, the successes of the occupiers were achieved at a high price: only in this area of ​​the front were the losses of up to 16-17 thousand killed, which testifies to cruel clashes and war on exhaustion. In turn, the loss of Ukrainian positions in Avdiivka and Villagledar opened the way to the effect of dominoes, which threatened with key nodes of defense.

However, despite the exhaustion, the Ukrainian army was able to stop the direct offensive on Pokrovsk in November 2024, forcing Russian troops to move to attempts by the city. Such tactics have already led to the local success of the Russians, in particular, the fall of Selidov and Shevchenko. But Ukrainian defenders keep defense in the southern direction, continuing the battle for Pokrovsk at least until the spring of 2025, says the expert.

On the northern flank of this section of the front, Konstantinovka remains the key point. The loss of this logistics unit will increase the pressure on Ukrainian defense and can lead to the creation of a large boiler in the Donbass. Therefore, the successes of the Russians in promotion to Konstantinovka and in the area of ​​Toretsk create a serious threat to Ukraine, especially against the background of limited reserves.

Future battles for Pokrovsk and neighboring territories will be crucial for the result of the spring campaign, emphasizes the Polish analyst. Adverse weather conditions give the Ukrainian side a chance to keep defense, but the depletion of reserves and the need to transfer all forces to the Eastern Front create strategic risks for the country.

But the success of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation near Pokrovsk is absolutely not obvious, since the troops of the enemy are still kept in the Toretsk forces of defense. However, the theoretical loss of Konstantinovka will create a terrible ghost of a huge boiler in the Donbass. "Of course, the Russians will not be able to close such a large boiler, but its appearance can again cause nervousness in defense, as in the case of Pokrovsk operation.