The end, Pokrovsk falls?

Pokrovsk is of exceptional importance because it is a key logistics base and traffic hub of the Ukrainian armed forces, where numerous roads and railways intersect.

The capture of this city would seriously impair Ukraine's ability to supply and coordinate its troops on that part of the front, the media reported earlier.

Satellite images from October 9 show that Russian forces advanced east of Seldova, along the railway line south of this place.

According to the reports of the Ukrainian military observer Kostantin Mashovets, Russian forces have taken control of Zhelanne Pershe, which was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Russia on September 14.

Mashovec pointed out that the Russian attacks in the direction of Pokrovsk and Kurakhov are taking place through the so-called "cumulative" attacks, where continuous waves of assault groups are sent in an attempt to gain key terrain.

These groups mainly consist of infantry with the support of artillery and aviation, while in some cases they also use armored vehicles.

Russian military bloggers claim that forces have advanced 600 meters east of the railway near Seldova, 950 meters inside western Tsukurine, and 400 meters south of Seldova.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched attacks in the wider Pokrovsk area, including settlements such as Sukha Balka, Novotoretske, Miroluvka and Kalnovo.

Analysts estimate that Russia is trying to expand the southern part of its advance in order to create a more favorable front line that would allow stronger attacks on Pokrovsk.

This maneuver would allow the Russians to eliminate tactical vulnerabilities and better position themselves for future offensives.

Since the beginning of the Russian attacks in April, after the first breakthrough of the Ukrainian lines near the village of Ocheretine, Russian forces have advanced more than 20 kilometers in the direction of Pokrovsk.