Pokrovsk can become a trap for the occupier: officer about the new geometry of war and kill zones
31 October 18:56
ANALYSIS FROM 
Some of the most intense fighting is taking place in the Pokrovsk area. The Russians have concentrated up to 170,000 troops here, trying to encircle Ukrainian forces. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the occupiers do not dominate the area, but the situation remains difficult – the enemy is constantly trying to advance and gain a foothold in the outskirts. An officer of the Ukrainian Defense Forces explained why even a destroyed city can turn into a trap for the occupier.
What is the new philosophy of urban defense, where drones, mining and precise coordination between types of weapons play a key role, in the article
Russia does not have an advantage in the Pokrovsk area, although the situation in this area remains tense. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference, answering journalists’ questions about the possibility of withdrawing Ukrainian troops in case of a threat of encirclement. “Commanders on the ground are well aware that it is impossible to allow encirclement.
It is not true to say that they are winning there. The President emphasized that the situation in the Pokrovsk area is really difficult, because the Russian grouping in this area numbers about 170,000 troops.
“In the morning I spoke with the commander-in-chief – there are no changes in Pokrovsk. There are Russians there, our troops are destroying them, gradually, taking into account the preservation of personnel,” the head of state noted.
Officer on Russian tactics
Officer of the Ukrainian Defense Forces Yevhen Tykhyi in an exclusive commentary
“Basically, we see the same scheme that the Russians wrote in their instructions on how to capture a city with their groups… It’s a classic: you capture the outskirts first, hit the outermost houses on the outskirts, and then go in,” Tychyi said.
According to him, such actions alone are unlikely to change the front line dramatically, but they give the enemy additional room for maneuver and resources if they are used properly.
The officer emphasizes that the current way of warfare is primarily about drones and equipment, as well as what else can be invented.
“No matter how much they (the city – ed.) destroy, there will be basements, destroyed objects… and the enemy will have some room for maneuver,” warns Yevhen Tykhyi.
According to Tykhyi, the key is not only to hold the city, but also how it will be used by both sides:
“If the enemy uses it correctly, better than we do, they will get some kind of a platform. If we organize it better, mine it, destroy it, we can make it as disadvantageous as possible for the enemy, using this space as a kill zone to destroy the enemy,” says Tychyi
He emphasizes the importance of preparing the defense: mining approaches, working with basements, and destroying infrastructure that could become a bridgehead for the enemy.
Successful city defense is “a successful synthesis of different types of weapons: from missiles and artillery to air and mobile drones. It requires successful interaction: NRCs, drones, bombers, artillery, missiles, etc.,” says Tykhyi.
“The technological advantage in drones also significantly changes the parameters of combat.
Despite the fact that such tactical steps create tension in the neighborhood. The main thing is to act systematically, prepare the city’s defense so that the enemy does not gain a favorable foothold, and preserve personnel as much as possible.
Thus, even a partial capture of the outskirts can have consequences if it is used as a basis for further operations. In modern warfare, it is not only the control of territory that is decisive, but also who better integrates various means into a single defensive or offensive strategy.
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