A Reuters report, citing analysts, highlights the significance of Pokrowsk (Krasnoarmeisk) in the Russian military’s push in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. If the city falls under Russian control, Moscow could gain a strategic advantage, allowing it to advance on multiple fronts and increase pressure on Kyiv at a critical moment.
According to the analysts, the Russian military could use the city as a launchpad for an offensive in the north or west, particularly in the Dnipro region. Three analysts consulted by Reuters mentioned two possible scenarios for the Russian side. The first would be to advance westward, into the sparsely populated plains of the Dnipro region, which are lightly fortified and lack natural or urban obstacles. The second option would be to advance northward, into a denser network of industrial cities, which would be harder to breach but would intensify the pressure on Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, the two largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the north of the Donetsk region.
Furthermore, the report notes that control of the city would enable Russia to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines and intensify the offensive on Chasiv Yar.
Pokrowsk, located 66 kilometers northwest of Donetsk, is a crucial railroad hub and a key junction for the national highway M30 (E50), connecting it to Donetsk.
Prior to the conflict, around 60,000 people lived in Pokrowsk. By the end of January, according to the Ukrainian police, only about 7,000 residents remained.
The Ukrainian authorities have described the Pokrowsk front as one of the most challenging for Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry has reported the capture of settlements south and east of the city for several months.