Military expert predicts shift in focus of battles in Kurakhove sector of Donetsk region

He shared this on Espreso TV.

"Unfortunately, the Russian troops have achieved tactical successes. Currently, the main focus of battles in the Kurakhove direction will shift to the settlement of Dachne. This is a strategic settlement for both Ukraine’s Defense Forces and the occupation forces. The settlement essentially protects the Kurakhove–Zaporizhzhia route, which is a key logistical element for Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Therefore, the Russian troops aim to either establish direct or fire control over this location," Sniehyriov stated.

He added that after the active phase of hostilities in the Kurakhove direction, enemy forces will be redirected toward the Pokrovsk direction.

"If we talk about the  Kurakhove direction overall, we can conclude that after the active phase of hostilities here, the enemy's occupation forces will be redeployed to the Pokrovsk direction. It’s no coincidence that after capturing the settlement of Shevchenko, which is one of the flanks of the Pokrovsk direction, the Russian army will attempt to expand their tactical successes directly toward Pokrovsk. From Shevchenko to Pokrovsk is about two kilometers. As for the general situation in the Pokrovsk direction, after capturing not only Shevchenko but also Ukrayinka, Russians aim to encircle the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces concentrated in the Pokrovsk agglomeration, which includes Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, and extends to operational rear areas," the expert noted.

He further said that enemy advancements have been observed in the areas of Solone and Vozdvyzhenka in the Pokrovsk district.

"Currently, enemy advancements are recorded in the settlement of Solone, and there’s information about advancements in the settlement of Vozdvyzhenka. This poses a rather dangerous scenario for Ukraine’s Defense Forces. However, both in the  Kurakhove and Pokrovsk directions, the main battles will unfold over key locations. In the Pokrovsk direction, this primarily concerns the Pokrovsk–Pavlohrad route. 

But it's worth mentioning the mood that prevails in the Ukrainian media. Eight kilometers remain to reach the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region. These eight kilometers must still be overcome, as Pokrovsk is a large industrial city with developed infrastructure, including the so-called industrial zone. Furthermore, preparations are underway for the city itself, as well as for engineering and fortification structures around it. The distance to the city is approximately two kilometers," he explained.

• On January 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi on the situation in key frontline directions.
• A representative of the press service of the 24th Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo, Andriy Polukhin, provided updates on the situation in the Chasiv Yar direction and the enemy forces concentrated there.