What is the purpose of the attacks of the Russian Armed Forces on Gulyaipole and why are they less of a priority than Pokrovsk - The Telegraph

In recent weeks, the advance of the Russian Armed Forces on the administrative border of three regions — Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhia — has accelerated, according to an article in The Telegraph. Due to the constant pressure of the Russians on the key city in the defense, Pokrovsk, the situation on the southeastern part of the front worsened. In particular, the enemy managed to occupy new territories and advance up to 19 miles (16 km) in some areas.

Regarding the events on the border of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, the media collected assessments of the situation from official and unofficial sources in Ukraine. Among others, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the increase in threats to Orichov, and volunteer Serhii Sternenko wrote on social networks that tanks of the Russian Armed Forces could appear even in Dnipro (located 100 km from the battle line) or Zaporizhzhia (20 km).

At the same time, they mentioned Gulyaipole - the Russians are advancing north of the settlement, but have not yet gained a significant advantage. "[Russia] is claiming positions and promotions that never happened," the media noted. The Telegraph article suggests that the attacks near Gulyaipol are an attempt by the Russian Armed Forces to force the Ukrainians to withdraw their forces from Pokrovsk. "Ukrainian defenses around Gulyaipol look increasingly disjointed.

This area is a lower priority for Russia and Ukraine. . . The counterattack in Pokrovsk means that few forces are available to stabilize the situation anywhere else like [Zaporizhia]," military analyst Mike Kofman quoted the media as saying. The Western media described the situation on the eastern front in Ukraine, relying on the statements of the Ukrainian and Russian command and on the information of the DeepState project.

It is indicated that today Pokrovsk is in the gray zone and 300-500 Russian soldiers have sneaked into the city under the cover of fog. Street fighting ensues as each house is recaptured or lost. The article explained that it is possible to "delay the retreat", which Ukrainian generals have been accused of. According to the article, the lack of personnel in the Armed Forces is among the probable reasons for the deterioration of the situation.

In the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which appeared on the morning of November 17, the command reported on the number of assaults by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which were most counted in the Pokrovsky direction — 50 units. Under Orikhov and Gulyaipol, the number of attacks is two to three times smaller — . . . and . . . (respectively).

It should be noted that on November 14, a military officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces spoke about the Russian offensive in Novopavlivka, a settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region, located west of Pokrovsk. According to him, the Russians took advantage of the foggy weather and broke through to the southern outskirts. Several BMP penetrated the village and drove almost to the northern outskirts: the enemy was stopped, but part of the Russian infantry lay down among the ruins.