"From Pokrovsk to Chasovoy Yar": Russian Armed Forces aim to create a "cauldron" covering 1,200 sq. km, according to an expert.

According to Ivan Stupak, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently putting up resistance, making it difficult to create a large encirclement. However, the occupiers are already managing to establish smaller encirclements.

https://focus.ua/voennye-novosti/690570-vs-rf-gotovyat-kotel-na-1200-kv-km-v-doneckoy-oblasti-stupak2025-01-28 08:05:07

The Russian occupying forces aim to create a large "cauldron" covering 1200 square kilometers from Pokrovsk to Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. This was stated by former Security Service of Ukraine employee and military expert Ivan Stupak in an interview with "OBOZ.ua".

"If I were in their position, I would want to create a 'cauldron' rather than just equalize the lines. Because if you draw a straight line from Pokrovsk to Chasiv Yar, you can see how deep this 'bowl' is — 1200 square kilometers. Of course, the enemy would like to maximize this," Stupak said.

At the same time, he explained that creating such a large "cauldron" is currently not possible because Ukrainian forces are resisting.

"They cannot create a huge 'cauldron', but they can make smaller ones — and unfortunately, they are doing so. Areas like Bolshaya Novoselka and Kurakhovo are examples. They are currently cutting roads from Ocheretino, and another 'cauldron' will begin to take shape there. Filling this large 'cauldron' with 'mini-cauldron' operations is a strategic goal for the Russians," Stupak noted.

According to him, in areas where capable units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are resisting, the Russians attempt to outflank and find weak spots.

"We are short on personnel. In places where our capable units are resisting, the Russians are pressing from the flanks and identifying weak points, where there are unmotivated individuals, where there are Russified people, untrained and unprepared. Unfortunately, this works against us," Stupak emphasized.

Recall that on January 24, Ivan Stupak stated that the Russian Armed Forces may attempt to bypass Pokrovsk through the Dnipropetrovsk region to force the Armed Forces of Ukraine to retreat.

On January 28, Ukrainian serviceman Stanislav Bunyatov stated that the Russian Armed Forces have set a goal to reach the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region by the end of February 2025.