Three Russian brigades surround Pankivka, Ukrainian counterattack fails

Three Russian brigades surrounded Pankivka and a Ukrainian counter-offensive north of the city of Pokrovsk failed.

After nearly a week of chaotic fighting, the situation on the front north of Pokrovsk is finally starting to clear up a bit. On September 21, a Ukrainian observer named Mashovets revealed a harsh truth: Although President Zelensky claimed that the Ukrainian army (AFU) was winning north of Pokrovsk, the situation on the ground had not improved at all.

The reason was that the Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) had previously deployed a large number of troops and weapons to the northern front of Pokrovsk and set a trap, and now, at last, that effort paid off. The entire battlefield, both tactically and in terms of the situation, had completely changed in Russia's favor.

Mashovets cited, for example, Russian units such as the 1st and 110th Motorized Rifle Brigades, along with the supporting 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade. They formed a battle formation north of the village of Novoekonomichne and surrounded the Ukrainian forces that had entered the village of Pankivka.

Initially, the AFU intended to capture Pankivka first, then join forces with its forces in the battle for Novotoretske, eventually encircling the Russians west of the Toretsk River. However, the Russians effectively neutralized this "counter-encirclement" threat, foiling the Ukrainian plans.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian troops advancing along the Pankivka-Novotoretske line were also surrounded by the Russians on three sides. While the Russians were continuously attacking from Mayak to Sofivka, they were also attacking north from Poltavka to Rushin Yar, directly cutting off the Ukrainian rear.

The Ukrainian army had hoped to concentrate its forces and continue the attack, but with its rear guard cut off, how could it attack? It was trapped, unable to move. However, the Ukrainian army had not completely collapsed, still holding its positions at Pankivka and Nykanorivka.

Therefore, theoretically, there is still a possibility that the Russian troops on the northern front of Pokrovsk could be encircled - but this possibility is extremely small, almost like hitting the jackpot due to the RFAF having enough forces and especially their absolute advantage in air power.

The RFAF's 114th and 132nd Mechanized Infantry Brigades were not idle either, having to fend off AFU counterattacks on Kucheriv Yar and a large area to the south and southeast. At the same time, they expanded the area from Nove Shakhove to the south, north and west, in order to extend the flanks of the northern defense line, making it more secure.

Returning to the situation in the Pokrovsk metropolitan area, according to the Military Chronicle, the Russians have captured the western part of the city and expanded the bridgehead. The southern part is even more important, as the Russians have penetrated and captured most of the village of Novopavlivka.

The attack had actually begun several days earlier, perhaps even earlier, but it was only now confirmed that the Russians had actually penetrated. The village was the outermost line of defense in the southeast of Pokrovsk. Losing it would completely expose the southern part of the city, and the Russians would certainly enter the city from there, launching a real siege.

But before the major battle for the city began, the Russians faced another challenge: the Lisivka and Sukhyi Yar lines. Ukrainian forces along these lines could closely monitor Russian forces attacking the city from the south.

Both sides had been fighting here for six months and were exhausted. But now that the Russians had entered Novopavlivka, Ukrainian forces along the line were in dire straits. Their supply lines were nearly cut off, forcing them to ferry supplies from Myrnohrad.

But now that Myrnohrad’s supply lines were scattered, how could they get more supplies and weapons to Lisivka? The Ukrainian forces along this line could hardly hold out much longer. But the Russians could not advance quickly either, because the AFU minefields in this area were densely packed.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also noted a detail: The Russian army was equipped with sophisticated weapons, often wearing thermal protection clothing. Moreover, during the attack, the Russian army used a clever tactic. That is, deploying one or two secondary units to distract the AFU, so that the main attack could attack smoothly. This tactic, although simple, proved to be quite effective on the battlefield.

However, there is one problem that is difficult for both sides: the logistics of the campaign. For both the Russian and Ukrainian armies, the supply lines for the front line must be 50 km away; any closer and they will have to endure long-range fire from the enemy.

The closest four-wheel drive vehicles can get is 15 to 20 kilometers, or even further. For the rest of the way, soldiers have to transport supplies on foot or by motorbike. Despite these conditions, both sides persist, showing the extreme difficulty of the front. (photo source: Military Review, TASS, Kyiv Post, Ukrinform).

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