Russia's Attacks on Pokrovsk City in Eastern Ukraine Continue

The Ukrainian army announced that Russian forces have continued their attacks near the city of 'Pokrovsk' in eastern Ukraine, attempting to cut off supply routes for the Ukrainian army. According to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian army on Saturday, January 15, Russian forces targeted Pokrovsk 34 times over the past 24 hours and tried to break through the country's defensive line south of Pokrovsk. This military official stated that Russian forces have deployed small groups of soldiers to settlements south of 'Pokrovsk' to block supply routes for the Ukrainian army. He emphasized that Russian forces have avoided entering 'Pokrovsk' to prevent intense urban combat and are first attempting to disrupt the supply chain of the Ukrainian army by bypassing the city. The spokesperson noted that Ukrainian forces have been using drones and precision weapons to prevent the Russian army from achieving its objectives. Capturing roads and railways in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine will not only create serious difficulties for the Ukrainian army on the eastern fronts but will also facilitate the reinforcement of Russian forces and advance on the western front. The 'Pokrovsk' mine is the only supplier of coal for Ukraine's steel industries, and according to Ukrainian estimates, only about 11,000 of the pre-invasion population of 60,000 in 'Pokrovsk' continue to reside in the city. After Russian military units expelled Ukrainian forces from the important defensive city of 'Vuhledar' in late October, it was anticipated that the strategic cities of 'Pokrovsk' and 'Chasiv Yar' in the Donetsk province of eastern Ukraine would be among Russia's next targets.