I have been following the battle of Pokrovsk in the news and getting varying reports. On some news wires Ukraine is surrounded and just about to retreat but cannot, other news reports say Russia is advancing. When I view maps, Russians have advanced and the have taken parts of the city, they are fighting street-by-street.

Is Ukraine losing? Well, not really as they are holding on and extracting a high price for any Russian advances. Under the cover of fog, the Russians advanced as the Ukrainian drones were unable to operate, this is unfortunate for Ukraine. I note that the Russians are employing new tactics, they are inserting cells in Povtrosk who then go into hiding to evade Ukrainian defenders and only appear when reinforcements arrive.

I see the Ukrainians are reinforcing the northern sector and whilst the Russians appear to be more active on the southern flank, they are keeping the corridor open. The remaining Ukrainian defenders are still operating to destroy the Russian advance, but they should be very concerned that they are surrounded, whilst the Russians are trying to apply a pincer movement, Ukrainian defences are holding – for now.