Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps, the weather conditions, particularly dense fog, have prompted Moscow to intensify its efforts to increase troop presence in the devastated city and encircle Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have been attempting to seize the city for over a year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the fog has favored Russian attacks, complicating the defensive situation.
Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that the front line in the southeastern Zaporzhzhia region has "significantly worsened," with three settlements lost to Russian forces.
Syrskyi noted that Russia's most active operations are around Pokrovsk, highlighted by viral videos showing Russian soldiers driving through foggy roads in civilian vehicles and motorbikes.
The BBC has corroborated the video's location as the southern outskirts of the town along the Selidove-Pokrovsk highway.
A drone pilot from the "Shershni Dovbusha" unit of the 68th brigade explained that the lengthy fog conditions limited their aerial reconnaissance capabilities, allowing Russian forces to launch assaults without immediate detection.
Ukrainian defenses regularly counter small Russian groups attempting to advance on foot and on bikes. While there are reports of a convoy being partially destroyed, the fog has prevented video verification of the attack's outcome.
The 7th Corps estimates around 300 Russian soldiers are currently in Pokrovsk, although this number is believed to have increased in recent days as Russian troops close in from multiple directions.
With much of the city becoming a contested area, Ukrainian drones are struggling to monitor movements, while Russian tactics of infiltration conduct significant attacks on logistical routes, complicating Ukrainian defense strategies.
Amidst the chaos, Russian troops are trying to encircle Pokrovsk and nearby Myrnohrad, restricting supply routes and increasing the pressure on Ukrainian forces in the area.
Commanders like Kostyantyn Mashovets emphasize that Russian forces are effectively targeting Ukrainian FPV pilots to diminish detection capabilities and enhance their operational movement.
Infiltration tactics, including disguising as locals or Ukrainian soldiers, are common, aiming to sow confusion among defenders before launching larger assaults. The Kremlin’s military strategy also involves increased activity along the front lines in neighboring regions, intensifying the overall conflict.
