Russian forces may enter Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region as they advance toward Pokrovsk

He expressed this opinion during a broadcast on Espreso.

"The Russian army is currently conducting an operation to encircle Pokrovsk. Their immediate goal is to sever all logistical routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces leading to Pokrovsk and the Dnipropetrovsk region. As part of these actions, Russians may enter the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region. This is a reality we will probably have to accept, as the enemy continues to pressure our positions there. It doesn't require military education to look at the map and understand what's happening around Pokrovsk. It’s not a semi-encirclement yet, but the situation is tense," Popovych explained.

According to the analyst, the enemy is searching for weak points in the Ukrainian defense in the Pokrovsk direction and trying to advance in those areas of the front.

"The Russians are identifying weak spots in our defense and attempting to advance there. Currently, this advancement is happening towards the Dnipropetrovsk region. As part of their flanking maneuver, they may enter the territory of Dnipropetrovsk," he added.

Popovych also believes that the Russian forces do not prioritize capturing Pokrovsk at this stage. Instead, they are trying to cut off all logistical routes to the city first.

"If the enemy manages to approach the outskirts of Pokrovsk, urban fighting will begin. However, I believe their current objective is not to enter the city. They aim to disrupt logistics leading to the Dnipropetrovsk region first, and only then will they attempt to advance into Pokrovsk to capture it," the analyst emphasized.

• On January 21, Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the "Khortytsia" Operational and Strategic Group, stated that Russian forces had changed their tactics in the Pokrovsk direction. They are now attempting to bypass the city through forest plantations and small villages from the west.
• On January 22, the General Staff reported that from the start of January 21, there were 121 combat clashes on the Russian-Ukrainian front. The enemy’s most active assaults are focused on the Pokrovsk direction.