File image.
The Russian military has cleared a Ukrainian pocket near the city of Kostiantynivka, and made more gains in the Dobropillia salient and around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk direction.
On October 8, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Yug [South] Group of Forces completed the “neutralisation” of Ukrainian troops who were besieged in a fairly large pocket south of Kleban-Byk Reservoir to the south of Kostiantynivka.
With the pocket cleared, Russian troops will be able to resume their advance in Nelipivka and Pleshchiivka, which are located to the north of Kleban-Byk. Thus, Ukrainian defenses in the southern outskirts of Kostiantynivka are about to face more pressure.
Moving to the west in Donetsk, the Tsentr [Center] Group of Forces continues to expand its control in the Dobropillia salient.
Russian troops have reportedly entered the territory of Zolotoy Kolodez, at the peak of the salient. The troops also re-entered Ivanovka and advanced north of Zatyshok, mounting more pressure on the Ukrainian pocket between Nykanorivka and Boikivka.
While the situation in the salient shifted in favor of the Russian side in recent days, some of Ukraine’s best units are still deployed there and they seem to be still capable of conducting local counterattacks.
To the south in Pokrovsk, the Tsentr Group of Forces is reported to be advancing towards the area of Hrishino in the center of the key city, which is a logistics hub for Kiev forces. Intense strikes also hit Ukrainian defenses in Rodynske, to the north of the city, with some reports of a new push there.
Russian troops also continue to develop their operations to the west of Pokrovsk, mainly from Udachne northward. The troops have reportedly entered the Western Mine Number 1 and are battling Kiev forces to take hold of it.
The operations between Udachne and Kotlyne pose a serious threat to Kiev forces. Any breakthrough from there could cut the route linking Pokrovsk with Slovyanka to the northwest. This is one of the last routes Ukraine is using to supply its troops in the city.
Ukraine continues to prioritize the defense of this part of Donetsk, especially the Dobropillia salient and Pokrovsk. Yet, the situation is only getting worse. On top of that, allocating this much resources to these areas is causing problems for Kiev forces in other parts of Donetsk, like Seversk and Liman. That’s not to mention the near collapse in the directions of Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk, or the big failure in Kupansk in the Kharkiv direction.
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the ukrainians throw in fire brigades to stem the russian advances and then counter attack so they have localised success but this is part of the attritional warfare. the russians then attack elsewhere and everytime the ukrainians get weaker and weaker until the whole front eventually collapses. right to the end german forces bloodied russian forces but it didn’t affect the outcome.