Russia aims to block Ukrainian use of Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka highway - military expert

He said this on Espreso TV.

"Russian forces keep pushing, but they have slowed their offensive. This is evidenced by their lower losses, as they are deploying fewer personnel into battle. However, the pressure remains strong. The Pokrovsk direction is the hottest. The Russian army has concentrated more than a third of its main efforts here. They are already partially covering the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka highway with fire. It is critical for Russian forces to block this important route and prevent the Ukrainian Defense Forces from using it," Zhmailo noted.

According to the military expert, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have also been reinforced in the Pokrovsk direction.

"In particular, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has been working in the east to make swift decisions. Currently, the advance of Russian forces towards the highway is partially contained. It is crucial for the Russian army in the Pokrovsk direction to achieve some success. If they can't quickly capture a large settlement, cutting our logistics routes is vital for their propaganda to present it as a significant victory," Zhmailo added.

• Pavlo Lakiychuk, the head of security programs at the Centre for Global Studies Strategy XXI, Captain of the Ukrainian Navy Reserve, noted that the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka-Chasiv Yar highway is crucial for logistics for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.