Reuters: Russians are tightening the noose around Pokrovsk.

Russian forces are slowly tightening the noose around the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a key logistical hub in eastern Ukraine. This is due to the significant advantage the Russians have in manpower and their disregard for losses.

This is reported by the agency Reuters.

While Ukraine is stubbornly defending the city, its encirclement or loss could place Russia in a stronger position to launch attacks in multiple directions and increase pressure on Kyiv at a critical moment in the war, the publication comments.

Of the 60,000 residents, only about 7,000 remain, according to local authorities. The last post office recently closed – mail will now be delivered by armored trucks.

On both sides of the city, Russian troops are within range of artillery and drones, and most vehicles now bypass Pokrovsk via secondary roads for safety, rather than using the highway that runs east to west across Ukraine, the article states.

“The situation is generally difficult, the enemy is constantly attacking,” quotes the agency the deputy commander of the 59th assault brigade, who asked to be called by the call sign Phoenix.

The officer reported that the enemy has much more infantry, attacks in small groups, and is willing to sustain very high losses, skillfully using the landscape and poor visibility to hide from drones.

“Day and night, they are advancing,” Phoenix said in a comment to Reuters.

The road and rail connections of Pokrovsk have made it an important supply center for a large section of the front line in Ukraine, but recently the threat of Russian artillery and drones has limited this function.

At the same time, military correspondent Bohdan Myroshnykov writes: “In the Pokrovsk direction, we managed to push the enemy back a bit on the northern outskirts of Kotlyne. The further movement of the occupiers from Kotlyne to Pokrovsk was blocked by the railway. However, they managed to advance about 1.5 km from the village. In Udachny, exhausting battles are ongoing for both sides. In Zvirivka, our troops managed to regain previously lost positions up to 400 meters deep. The overall picture is still very grim, but it is beginning to feel that the OSUV ‘Khortytsia’ is in reliable hands.”

Background. Recall: On January 16, DeepState reported that Russian forces had cut off the road to Pokrovsk and were trying to encircle the city. Additionally, the Russians are expected to attempt to seize the southeastern part of the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to ISW.