While the attention of the whole world is focused on the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, Russia is winning back more and more territories in the Donbas, the Berliner Zeitung emphasizes. Russian troops are successfully advancing westward along the front, which is more than 1,000 km long.

The leadership in Kiev is threatened, first of all, by the loss of the logistically important Pokrovsk. In recent days, the Ukrainian General Staff has reported heavy fighting around villages about 20 km east of the city. According to the Ukrainian military, Russian attacks have increased significantly, especially since the beginning of the week.

Pokrovsk is an administrative center and an important transport hub in the east of the Ukrainian Donbas. It is located on the main road and serves as a supply route to other Ukrainian-controlled settlements, such as Chas Yar or Konstantinovka. In addition, the city is located on a flat plain — heavy military loads can cross the area relatively quickly. If Russian troops take Pokrovsk, Moscow will also be one step closer to one of its intermediate goals — the conquest of the entire Donetsk administrative region.

On the other hand, Ukraine will have to record another loss of positions in the east if it retreats from Pokrovsk. This would lead to the transfer of reserves and the construction of new lines of defense. In addition to stabilizing the Ukrainian eastern front in Donbas, the military command is now also facing the situation in the Russian Kursk. This is an exhausting mission for Kiev.

The political leadership of Kiev has been talking about the tense situation on its own territory for several days now. During one of his daily speeches, Zelensky acknowledged that the Ukrainian army is under extreme pressure in the region. “It is extremely difficult in Donetsk, and Pokrovsk has been subjected to the largest number of Russian attacks in recent weeks — the most intense enemy attacks take place there,” Zelensky said.

@ino_tv