Russian forces lack resources to encircle Pokrovsk from flanks - Ukrainian military

This was stated by Ivan Tymochko, the head of the Reservists Council of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on Espreso TV.

"Russian drones are already flying over Pokrovsk, and artillery is targeting the suburbs. However, it’s too early to say that Russian troops have advanced close enough to the city to prepare an offensive on the outskirts. While the intensity of fighting is high, it's not yet at that stage," Tymochko explained.

"The situation is undoubtedly very serious. However, the Russians currently lack the forces to encircle Pokrovsk from the flanks. They may attempt to disrupt logistics routes on the western or eastern sides of the city, but so far, they have been unable to completely cut off the city’s supply lines and support. They also haven’t resolved the issue of the Kupyansk salient, which remains a significant challenge for them. Additionally, they have failed to seize control of the road connecting Zaporizhzhia to Donetsk, which is vital for the Ukrainian military contingent. In this context, Russian forces are not in a position to launch a large-scale offensive on Pokrovsk," he added.

Russian troops will attempt to cut off logistics and expand the front on the flanks, but it will likely be a “creeping offensive,” Tymochko explained.

“Russian forces consist of different groups, and their commanders don’t always work together, which causes internal competition,” he said. “They will try to attack on the flanks and head-on, but they don’t have the strength for a breakthrough. Even with 70,000 troops, they don’t have enough for large-scale operations,” the soldier added.

• On January 1, Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Serhii Tsekhotskyi stated that the fighting for Pokrovsk continues, with Russians attempting to encircle the city.