Kiev Forces Are Losing Ground In Pokrovsk (Videos)

File image.

As of September 17, Kiev forces continue to lose ground to the Russian military in several directions in Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye.

In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian troops made some gains along the road leading to the eastern entrance of the settlement and captured more farmlands to the southeast. The advance was facilitated by intense use of drones, which restricted the movement of Kiev forces inside Kostiantynivka.

Kiev forces are reportedly reinforcing their defenses in Kostiantynivka in anticipation for a direct Russian attack on the settlement. Still, the battle will not likely start soon, as the Russian military will likely attempt to tighten its control around the settlement before advancing in urban areas there.

Moving to the west in Donetsk, a new push by the Russian military was reported to the east of Shakhovo, which is located in the Pokrovsk direction.

The main battle in this direction remains, however, in Pokrovsk itself, with Russian troops pushing deeper into urban areas in the city.

Russian gains were reported in Chkalov Street. The troops are said to have reached the Central City Hospital. They also imposed control of the DonetskStal bus depot in the western outskirts of the city, and advanced from the area of Troyanda to the south. Photos from there showed a destroyed American-made M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicle.

Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)

Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)

Meanwhile in Dnepropetrovsk, the Russian military secured more areas to the east of Berezovoye and advanced from Novomykolaivka towards Kalinovskoye. An attack to fully capture Berezovoye could begin soon. However, the build up for a push inside Kalinovskoye could take a little longer.

Further to the west in Zaporozhye, fierce battles between the Russian military and Kiev forces were reported in Novodanilovka and Mala Tokmachka, with neither side advancing. However, Russian troops were reported to be on the offensive in Prymorske and Stepnohirsk, amid intense drone attacks by Kiev forces.

Russia’s Rubikon advanced unmanned technology center and other sources released on September 17 several videos showing dozens of recent drone strikes that targeted Ukrainian troops, equipment and positions in Donetsk and several other directions.

While the scale of Kiev forces’ recent losses is not clear, the Russian MoD said in its daily briefing that 1,555 Ukrainian troops were neutralized across the special military operation zone in the last 24 hours. This of course includes those killed during fighting in Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye.

Overall, the situation of Kiev forces is at its worst in Pokrovsk. The city is almost besieged. Kiev forces won’t likely fight there for long. Ukraine could attempt to launch a major counter-attack there. However, wasting resources on such a move could end up leading to an even worse collapse.

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