Thread by @ArturRehi

Russia continues to advance in the direction of Pokrovsk. The situation is difficult for Ukraine and so far Russia does not want to transfer reserves to the Kursk region from this direction, moving forces from the Kharkiv direction. However, ISW analysts reported that Russia
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has nevertheless redeployed several units from the Pokrovsk direction to the Kursk region. Russia's offensive on Pokrovsk and Toretsk has been going on for several months already and a critical moment is coming in September-October, because if Russia approaches Pokrovsk,
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it will have to storm this city. The city's population was about 60 thousand people. For comparison, the population of Avdiivka was 35 thousand and Pokrovsk is almost twice as large. However, the speed of Russia's advance is now high and if Ukraine cannot take control of
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the situation, it may fall in a few weeks. Russia itself is now experiencing problems with resources, throwing conscripts against the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, and using all possible resources in the directions in the Donetsk region. Pokrovsk is a very
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important logistics hub for the Ukrainians, through which supplies are sent, including to the troops in the Toretsk direction and the Chasiv Yar direction. Russia is dropping a huge number of aerial bombs, attacking with drones and everything it has to advance to Pokrovsk.
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Russia's main force remains aviation. The tactics that Russia has found successful in recent months are to raze the city to the ground with KABs and enter it in small groups. The tactics of meat assaults did not bring success and they changed it. Otherwise, Russia's resource
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crisis is worsening. Even if they manage to approach Pokrovsk, the battles for it may be difficult and protracted. The front line in this area is extended, which may put the flanks at risk at some point. Russia also understands this and is trying to advance in the direction
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of Kurakhove. Russia now has more accumulated problems than during the battle for Avdiivka and storming a larger city will be a difficult task. Ukraine, in turn, continues to systematically strike Russian oil refineries and military targets with drones. The Pokrovsk direction
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is difficult, but Russia's prospects there are also unclear. And we must remember that in a protracted war, what is more important is not the loss or capture of a populated area, but what resources all this advancement costs.
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