The capture of Kotlyne by the Ukrainian troops marks a significant setback for Russia’s plans to seize Pokrovsk, allowing the Ukrainian forces to eliminate an abnormally high number of Russian troops.
Major Viktor Trehubov, Spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group of Troops sated this on TV broadcast, according to Ukrinform.
“This is extremely important because the Pokrovsk axis is where the Russians are making their greatest efforts, concentrating the largest number of their troops, and engaging in the most intense battles. This is their main objective at the moment — securing the southern part of Donetsk region, which involves encircling and capturing Pokrovsk. However, this is also where they are facing their biggest failures. The Ukrainian forces have successfully transitioned to an effective form of active defense, where we hold our positions and also eliminate an abnormally high number of enemy troops and launch counterattacks in sensitive areas, disrupting their plans,” the Spokesperson reported.
He clarified that the distance from the line of contact to Pokrovsk is only a few kilometers in certain areas.
Answering a question about whether the Pokrovsk–Dnipro highway could be targeted by enemy artillery, Trehubov noted that the Russians’ plan has not materialized so far.
“The Russians’ objective was to reach the highway and establish first fire control over it, and then physical control. However, following the counterattack on Kotlyne, we can say that this plan is currently failing. There are several factors that even the Russians themselves complain about. I can name three: the dominance of Ukrainian drones, the lack of personnel, which is amusing to hear from Russian military bloggers, and the fact that their guided bombs have become ineffective because Ukrainian electronic warfare systems have made targeting significantly more difficult,” the Spokesperson explained.
He added that the Ukrainian defenders on the Pokrovsk front have now effectively built a system of cooperation between UAVs and motorized infantry and assault units.
Also, Trehubov reported that the enemy is switching to civilian vehicles, indicating a shortage of military equipment. Additionally, with spring and the thaw approaching, enemy movement across the terrain will become even more difficult.
As reported by Ukrinform, on February 26, Ukrainian paratroopers took control of the village of Kotlyne on the Pokrovsk front.
Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Source: Ukraine’s forces inflicting heavy losses on Russia near Kotlyne – military
