The town of Pokrovsk, sitting at the front lines the of the war in Ukraine, has been dubbed the Russian President's “Prized jewel” as the country is desperate to control it. Ukrainian forces have been defending the town for over a year.
In an episode of Battle Plans Exposed, intelligence officer Philip Ingram analysed why Putin is trying to get his hands on the city. He said that the town is a vital transport and railway hub and could give Russia a huge supply line advantage.
Russian media has nicknamed the area “the gateway to Donetsk’ as controlling the key crossroads in the area would enable Putin to seize control of the rest of the country.
Ingram described the city as a ‘cauldron’, an area surrounded by enemy forces. He said, “ Russia is trying to surround it and close the sides of the cauldron in to isolate the Ukrainian troops that are stuck there. "Ukraine has been defending it bravely for over a year now.”
"This will remain Russia's main effort in its battle to try and push the Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin himself has put this as something that is critically important for him."
The military expert said that Putin was desperate to seize it, citing a recent attempt that happened during the Russian president's summit with Donald Trump. Russian forces had aimed to stretch over the sides of the city but were unsuccessful as Ukraine thwarted the attempt in time.
He explained why he believes Russia is focusing on Pokrovsk rather than Zaporizhia. "It's because the Russians have invested so much time, so many personnel, into trying to capture this area - and Pokrovsk is key to the capture of the rest of the Donetsk Oblast.”
Donetsk, a region in Eastern Ukraine, was the country’s most populous province before Russia occupied it.
"The Donetsk Oblast is the one element where Russia doesn't own everything that's in the disputed Donbas region."
Ingram said that Russia was trying to distract Ukraine at other parts so that they can focus on Pokrovk.
A report by the Institute for the Study of War, said that Russia was burning through 68 soldiers for every square kilometere around the city and lost around 4000 tanks a casualty and equipment loss rate that dwarfs all othe battles.
British defence intelligence estimates Russia needs another four years and two million casualties to capture the rest of the oblast.
