The Russian command in the Dobropillia axis is intensifying offensive actions within the sectors of its 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies (CAA).
A redeployment of a range of forces and assets to this axis is being recorded in order to reinforce the forward units and formations of the 2nd and 51st CAAs, including the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Battalion, known as “Somalia.”
In this area, the troops of two Russian armies and their reinforcements are being opposed by a single Ukrainian corps — the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, along with several attached units (commanded by a brigadier general).
At present, the situation in this axis remains quite difficult. The Russian forces has also redeployed several units (groups) from the “Rubicon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies, which are attempting to extend (form) their so-called “kill zone” as deep as possible over the combat formations of the 7th Air Assault Corps. For this purpose, they are actively using the northwestern districts of Pokrovsk, particularly the industrial zones and high-rise buildings located there, where they deploy equipment and UAV launch sites. This significantly reduces their drone flight time to Ukrainian positions and thus increases the effectiveness of Russian drone strikes on the frontline and immediate tactical rear of Ukrainian forces.
In essence, before launching active operations, the Russian army is attempting to punch a kind of breach in the corps-level “drone wall” and, using its own UAV groups (including those from the Rubicon Center), not only severely complicate the logistical and material-technical support (MTS) of forward units, but also provide air cover for the attacking infantry (assault) groups and units.
There are also active attempts by the Russian troops to move military equipment from the Selydove area through Myrnohrad into the southeastern part of Pokrovsk and accumulate it there, taking advantage of certain terrain features in the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration.
At the same time, as I understand it, the command of the 7th Air Assault Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is currently managing to successfully complete the formation and deployment of its corps force structure, while simultaneously conducting intense but effective defensive battles against a numerically superior enemy already present in its area of responsibility.
Moreover, corps units have even been able, from time to time, to conduct successful counterattacks. For example, recently forward units of the 7th Rapid Response Corps carried out a number of successful reconnaissance-and-raid operations west of Rodynske and near Svobodne, inflicting effective fire damage on forward units of Russia’s 76th Air Assault Division.
According to information from the axis, the corps command is currently focusing its main efforts on two key issues: improving the effectiveness of combat command and control, and increasing the level of coordination at all levels.
In addition, the defensive focus of the corps command is currently centered on controlling the airspace, particularly over Pokrovsk. The Russian forces are actively using the city for launching strike and reconnaissance UAVs, as well as for sheltering and deploying its drone groups, which significantly complicates the logistics of forward Ukrainian units and formations.
