Russian army uses "thousand cuts" tactics in Pokrovsk – Syrsky
Russian military (Photo: propaganda media)

The Russian army is using the "thousand cuts" tactic in the Pokrovsk sector. This means an offensive on a wide front by small assault groups, said commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

According to Syrsky, this offensive had some success when the Russians advanced to within 10-12 kilometers of several Ukrainian settlements and suddenly appeared there.

The commander-in-chief cites terrain as one of the reasons.

"First of all, the area there is full of ravines and rivers – areas whose natural properties allow for covert movement. In summer, there is also a lot of vegetation, which makes it difficult to control the line of contact," he explained.

The second reason is the lack of a solid front line, so the enemy took advantage of this and advanced.

"After a number of decisive measures were taken, additional forces and means of our airborne units were deployed, we cleared settlements and areas, and the enemy's victorious mood changed to despair," said Syrsky.

The Commander-in-Chief confirmed that logistics support for the grouping of forces in Pokrovsk is ongoing, although the Russians are trying to cut it off.

The main goal of the enemy is to cover the Pokrovsk agglomeration from the north and south, forming a kind of "vice".

"The main objective of these actions in the northern direction is to cut off our logistics. In fact, the 51st Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation consisting of three brigades – the former 1st Army Corps of the so-called "DPR" – is advancing there," noted Syrsky.

  • on August 12, the First Corps of the National Guard "Azov" reported that its fighters occupied the defense line in the Pokrovske direction. The General Staff said that the reserve forces take actionto stop the enemy's advance.
  • august 15 Zelensky reportedhe said that the Defense Forces had made progress in the Pokrovsk sector. The President said that a decision had been made to strengthen all areas in the Donetsk region.
  • on August 18, the General Staff reported that Pokrovsk is liberated from the occupiers, who have recently entered the city in groups and alone.