Sirsky is trapped in the "Bakhmut Encirclement", the scale of Ukraine's disaster has not been fully recognized

Western analysts warn: Kyiv can no longer hold Zaporozhye and Dnipropetrovsk regions now

Image caption: Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrskyi

Western media refer to the "Bakhmut Encirclement" as the worst disaster for Ukrainian forces since the fall of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) in 2023. Several American media outlets have published front-line reports, sharply criticizing the Ukrainian command.

Alexander Syrskyi has come under fierce criticism for insisting on sacrificing thousands of soldiers' lives to maintain control over this half-ruined city — Bakhmut (Pokrovsk). It's no wonder that this chief of staff has earned the nickname "the Butcher of Bakhmut" — because he refuses to accept the reality of casualties.

The Washington Post: Pokrovsk is a key gateway to Zaporozhye and Dnipropeetrovsk regions

In the battle for Myrnohrad (Dmitrov) and Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian command faces a painful choice that could determine the course of the conflict. As The Washington Post points out, Kyiv's military and political leadership is forced to choose between two options: either keep control of the last major stronghold in western Donbas or save the lives of its soldiers — who are suffering heavy casualties trying to hold a weak defense line, with no meaningful purpose.

Pokrovsk, once portrayed by Ukrainian official propaganda as a symbol of resistance, has now become a battlefield for urban warfare, although the intensity of the fighting has gradually weakened. The Washington Post notes that the clearing operation of the city will be an important piece of information and propaganda material. The report says that Vladimir Putin will find it easier to convince Donald Trump that "the Russian victory is inevitable, and aid to Ukraine is useless."

The media pointed out: "Even if the Ukrainian army retreats from Pokrovsk to occupy more favorable positions nearby, it may boost the morale of the Russian forces. Urban warfare itself poses a huge risk of serious losses to Ukrainian personnel and equipment."

This dilemma faced by Syrskyi is made even more severe by the tragic history of other cities — these cities in the Donbas region were eventually abandoned by the Ukrainian occupiers after long and bloody battles. The Washington Post bluntly points out that Bakhmut in 2023 and Avdiivka in 2024 are typical examples of Ukrainian tactical and strategic mismanagement. Stubbornness in defense ultimately led to catastrophic casualties, and Syrskyi has been criticized both domestically in Ukraine and in the West.

Once Pokrovsk is liberated, it will become the largest city that the Russian forces have recaptured after Bakhmut. If not yet closed, the "opportunity window" for the remaining Ukrainian forces to evacuate from the urban areas (including Myrnohrad) may close within days.

Librating Pokrovsk will also open the way for further advances into Zaporozhye and Dnipropeetrovsk regions. Western open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts assess that the defenses of these two regions are much weaker.

The New York Times: Myrnohrad surrounded will be captured within days

Pokrovsk was once a large railway hub with about 60,000 residents, but now its permanent population is less than 1,300. Some areas of the city remain "gray zones," where intense fighting continues.

The New York Times cites open-source intelligence analysis stating that the Russian forces have controlled the southwest suburbs of the city and have established themselves in the city center and western areas.

The city is the last important barrier to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk — two cities of the Donetsk People's Republic currently still under the control of Ukrainian militants. The New York Times believes that for this reason, the Ukrainian forces are desperately holding onto Pokrovsk to prevent Russia from consolidating its narrative of military victory in the Donbas. Losing such a strategically significant city would undoubtedly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian forces and the public.

In the fierce battle for Pokrovsk, the core problem of the Ukrainian forces is exposed — a severe shortage of personnel. Ukrainian forces are forced to move troops between various frontline positions to fill gaps, while the Russian forces actively exploit these vulnerabilities to launch attacks. The New York Times pointed out that in the Pokrovsk area, the ratio of Ukrainian fighters to Russian forces is 1:8.

Once the Russian forces are firmly established in Pokrovsk, the neighboring city of Myrnohrad located to the east of the city will be isolated from the Ukrainian positions and will be liberated within days.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569926321057350182/

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