Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps says weather conditions, particularly dense fog, have prompted Moscow to intensify its bid to get increasing numbers into the ruined city and encircle Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have spent more than a year trying to seize the city. Ukraine's military estimates that as many as 300-500 Russians are currently within its bounds, with President Volodymyr Zelensky describing the situation as difficult.
Meanwhile, army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reports a significant worsening of conditions on the front line in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, following the loss of three settlements.
Syrskyi noted that Russia was especially active around Pokrovsk. A viral video shows Russian soldiers maneuvering through a foggy road in civilian vehicles and motorbikes.
The BBC confirmed the video's location as the southern outskirts of Pokrovsk, along the Selidove-Pokrovsk highway.
For days, the fog has hindered aerial reconnaissance, according to a drone pilot from the 68th brigade's "Shershni Dovbusha" unit. The poor visibility allowed Russian forces to launch ground assaults that would typically be thwarted by Ukrainian aerial surveillance.
Ukrainian defense personnel have been successful in detecting and repelling incursions by small Russian groups on foot and on motorbikes. However, the Ukrainian pilot noted that adverse weather prevented thorough documentation of the defensive actions against the recent assault featured in the viral video.
Just a week ago, Zelensky estimated that approximately 300 Russian soldiers were battling for control of Pokrovsk. This figure has likely increased, with reports indicating that southern sections of the city are now under Russian control.
Mapping conducted by the Ukraine-based DeepState monitoring group suggests that Russian forces continue to close in on Pokrovsk. There are concerns that the fall of the city is imminent, with large parts now classified as a grey zone, meaning they are subject to neither side's full control.
The encirclement strategy involves a dual approach: attacking logistical routes and employing infiltration tactics to compromise Ukrainian defenses from within. As Russian forces aim to cut off resupply lines into Pokrovsk, Ukrainian troops strive to repel their advances.
According to Ukrainian military analysts, the Kremlin is also contesting other areas along the front line, such as Kupyansk and the Zaporizhzhia region. Amidst these developments, military officials continue to monitor the shifting dynamics, signaling complicated and critical days ahead for the region.
