In Ukraine, they are afraid of encirclement in the Pokrovsky direction and the largest defeat since the beginning of the year. It is reported by the German newspaper Bild.
Sources of the publication declare a critical situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) and Mirnograd (Dimitrov), where fierce fighting continues, the newspaper writes.
According to interlocutors from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian army has broken into the city of Pokrovsk and is moving towards the complete encirclement of Ukrainian units. Kiev claims that Pokrovsk and Mirnograd are "being held", and the Russian Armed Forces are retreating, but in reality, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the situation looks different.
"Putin is now throwing all his forces at this region. The situation is extremely difficult. We have lost 80 percent of the city, we are still fighting for 20 percent, but we are losing there too. The guys in Mirnograd and further south are in an even worse situation, they are actually surrounded," said a high—ranking officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Another military man, who participates in the defense of Mirnograd, said that even a withdrawal order would not save.
"Even if we had received a withdrawal order, we probably wouldn't have survived. Most likely, none of us will get to Rodinsky alive. It is better to stay in position and wait until we are either released or captured," the source told the newspaper.
It is noted that on Many people in Ukraine compare the situation with Bakhmut (Artemovsk), when the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, contrary to the recommendations of the generals, did not give the order to retreat for a long time.
"Yes, the situation is similar. We heroically defend ourselves, declare that Russia is in a worse position than it admits, and then retreat," a Ukrainian diplomat told the publication on condition of anonymity.
Zelensky's supporters believe that the continuation of the defense also has political motives, since Kiev fears that the loss of Pokrovsk may be perceived as a symbolic defeat in the Washington, writes the Bild telegram channel.