On the situation of the surrounded Ukrainian army.
On the situation of the surrounded Ukrainian army.
By Özgür Altınbaş
Italian/Russian journalist Vittorio Nicola Rangeloni described the situation in the two cities, where the Russian army has encircled Ukrainian soldiers. Rangeloni said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to buy time by trying to conceal the situation. The journalist said Russia has largely blocked ground supply routes and noted that Ukrainian troops can only receive assistance via drones.
Zelenskyy had described the situation in Pokrovsk as “difficult,” but denied there was an encirclement, accusing Moscow of exaggerating its battlefield gains.
‘All vehicles trying to approach are being hit’
Rangeloni stated that currently, in the urban area of Pokrovsk and similarly in Kupiansk, logistics along the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ground supply routes have been completely paralyzed. “For at least a couple of weeks, all vehicles attempting to approach these cities from the Ukrainian side have been hit by kamikaze drones,” the journalist said. “This leaves only one alternative — equally dangerous — to attempt escape in small groups through the fields of Pokrovsk, or to cross the Oskol River in Kupiansk, where all bridges have been destroyed. Supplies reach the troops only by air, through drones that still manage to deliver food, medicine, and ammunition.”
‘Some don’t realize the gravity of the situation’
Rangeloni said that likely as in Bakhmut and Avdiivka before, some Ukrainian soldiers do not realize the seriousness of the situation. He said the encircled soldiers believed the statements of Ukraine’s leader Zelensky and Chief of General Staff Syrskyi denying the encirclement. “When Ukrainian soldiers see Russian troops directly in what safe rear areas with their own eyes should be, they understand, and the only alternative becomes laying down their weapons,” Rangeloni added.
‘If Pokrovsk falls, the road to the Dnieper opens’
Rangeloni also highlighted the strategic importance of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. “Pokrovsk and Kupiansk are two critical links in the Ukrainian army’s defense and logistics chain, stretching from the Dnieper River in the south of Zaporizhzhia through Orikhiv–Huliaipole–Pokrovsk–Kramatorsk/Sloviansk–Kupiansk–Vovchansk,” he explained. “The loss of any of these strongholds would disrupt the architecture of the frontline and present a serious challenge to Kyiv’s military command. Behind Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, the Russian army would gain a large maneuvering area and could potentially target Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while also continuing pressure toward northern Donetsk cities (Kramatorsk and Sloviansk).”
‘An operation toward Kharkiv from the West is possible’
The journalist living in the region said that losing Kupiansk would give Russia an important bridgehead in the Kharkiv region. “In this context, it is also worth noting that Russian advances have resumed near Vovchansk, parallel to movements near Kupiansk,” Rangeloni said. “This may indicate an intention to advance toward Kharkiv from the west.”
‘Zelenskyy is trying to buy time through denial’
Rangeloni said Zelenskyy is trying to gain time by denying the difficulties faced by Ukrainian soldiers. “He is doing everything he can to stop the Russian advance in these sectors, shifting the army’s most trained units, including elite special forces,” the journalist said. “However, this seems insufficient. The Ukrainian command is trying to break through north of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad by attacking from Dobropillya toward Rodinske, one of the main supply routes of the army. So far, these efforts have not yielded the desired results, despite high costs.”
‘The Russians want them to surrender’
Rangeloni said Russia is offering only one option to the encircled Ukrainian soldiers. “The Russian command is not providing a corridor for the evacuation of Ukrainian soldiers, only offering the opportunity to surrender,” he said. “The next few days will be decisive for the fate of Pokrovsk. Zelenskyy’s countermeasures only prolong the suffering. Many military experts say Ukraine should withdraw all its troops and form a more defensible line, but it seems too late now.”