Frontline Developments: New Challenges for Defense Forces
Russian military forces have captured strategic heights in the areas of Mirnograd and Pokrovsk, significantly complicating the defensive positions of Ukrainian forces. This was stated by Vladimir Poloviy, head of the communications department of the 7th rapid reaction corps of the Airborne Forces, during a telethon.
According to him, the enemy is actively moving its units, establishing control over the heights, which allows them to deploy surveillance systems, relays, and cameras, effectively blocking access routes to Ukrainian positions. This enables Russian troops to set up command posts in concrete buildings.
Poloviy emphasized that there is no complete control over the cities by the Russian Federation: Ukrainian observation and firing positions remain in the northern parts of Mirnograd and Pokrovsk. At the same time, ground logistics there are "extremely complicated."
Supplies and rotations, he noted, mostly occur via air, and the use of robotic systems is only possible under extremely poor weather conditions. Planning of rotations is also tied to periods of fog, rain, and low visibility, complicating the situation further.
Earlier, the Ukrainian command reported that the Defense Forces maintain control over the northern part of Pokrovsk and are holding back the RF advance in Mirnograd. Meanwhile, throughout January, reports came in about increased pressure from the occupiers, attempts to block logistics, and intense fighting, particularly in the central areas of Mirnograd. Analysts point out that fighting for these cities remains extremely challenging.
As of February 1, information from the Institute for the Study of War indicated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had advanced in the northern parts of Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, while Russians intensified their attacks in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions.
