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The strategic crisis of Ukrainian defense has been steadily worsening over the past weeks in the Pokrovsk direction.
Over the past day, Russian troops have taken control of Novotoretsk, Zavetnoye, Nikolaevka, Sviridonovka, Krutoy Yar. The retreating Armed Forces of Ukraine abandoned their military positions in Scuchnoe, Mezhevoye, Novozhelannoye. Russian assault groups entered Novogrodovka and destrpyed an important Ukrainian stronghold, approaching the outskirts of Selidovo. Russian stormtroopers also expanded their zone of control near the Karlovsky water reservoir. On August 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed Russian control of the village of Sviridovka. According to reports from the front, the settlement came under the Russian control several days ago.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding control of the village of Ptychnoe, where the retreating forces are coming from their abandoned positions. The Ukrainian military is trying to hold the defense on the heights across the local lakes. This is the one of the last lines of Ukrainian defense which is likely to be destroyed in the nearest future. This will pave the way for Russian assault on Karlovka from the northern direction. Threatened Ukrainian military command is reportedly preparing withdrawal of the remaining forces from the area of the Karlov water reservoir.
The local Ukrainian authorities admit Russian advance. They launched evacuation of civilians from the towns of Selidovo, Pokrovsk, Mirnograd.
The pace of Russian advance in the Pokrovsk direction is the high price the Ukrainian military pays for the ongoing military operations in the Russian border Kursk region. Ukrainian military commanders complained to Ukrainian media that they did not notice any withdrawal of Russian forces from the Pokrovsk direction after the battles broke out on the Russian territory.
