ISW: Russians' advance in Pokrovsk axis may slow down due to dense urban area
Russian troops have had some success in Donetsk region – they have slightly advanced to the east and southeast of Toretsk and east of Pokrovsk, as well as to the west of Donetsk, but their further advance may slow down due to access to dense urban area, according to the summary of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“Russian forces advanced east and southeast of Toretsk amid continued offensive operations in the area on August 20. Geolocated footage published on August 20 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced along Tsentralna and Molodizhna streets in northwestern and western Pivnichne (east of Toretsk),” the ISW report for August 20, published on the website on Wednesday, reads.
According to ISW, additional geolocated footage published on August 14 and 18 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in northwestern and western Zalizne (east of Toretsk) and have seized the Artem Mine's waste heap (on the western outskirts of Zalizne).
In addition, the ISW records that Russian forces “recently marginally advanced east of Pokrovsk.” “Geolocated footage published on August 20 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced within southeastern Hrodivka (east of Pokrovsk).” At the same time, the Institute believes that Russian advances through Hrodivka will likely slow as Russian forces begin to fight through the settlement's more urban areas: “Russian forces may struggle to maintain their current tempo of advance as they attempt to advance further west to Myrnohrad (just northeast of Pokrovsk) and Pokrovsk … as these towns are larger and more densely urbanized in comparison to the small and mainly rural settlements that Russian forces have seized east of Pokrovsk and west of Avdiyivka thus far.” At the same time, the ISW notes that the tempo of Russian advances in the area will also depend on how well-manned and equipped the Ukrainian forces defending these towns will be.
The Institute said in its report that Russian forces continued offensive operations east of Pokrovsk near Vozdvyzhenka and Mykhailivka and in the direction of Zelene Pole and southeast of Pokrovsk near Kalynivka, Ptyche, and Skuchne on August 19 and 20.
According to ISW, Russian forces recently advanced west of Donetsk City amid continued offensive operations in the area on August 20. “Geolocated footage published on August 18 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in northwestern Krasnohorivka,” the Institute specialists said.
It is also reported that Russian forces continued offensive operations southwest of Donetsk City on August 20, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline, as there was no visual evidence of the advance of Russian troops in the direction of Siversk and in the direction of Chasiv Yar in the area of Klischiyivka and Andriyivka.
“Neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported ground attacks in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on August 20,” the ISW said in its report.