On September 4, 2024, a Ukrainian drone was shot down in the Ramensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Ukraine is facing losses that outweigh the gains made in Kursk, as Russia is on the brink of taking over Pokrovsk.
The diversion of Ukrainian troops for the Kursk attack has left vulnerable parts of Donetsk, according to analysts. There are concerns that Pokrovsk could soon fall into the hands of Russia.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, Svitlana Menyaylo is unwilling to acknowledge the achievements of Ukrainian forces in the western Russian region of Kursk. Ukrainian soldiers have been in control of numerous Russian villages covering over 1,000 square kilometers (620 square miles) since August 6, preparing to defend against an anticipated Russian counteroffensive.
However, for Menyaylo, a seamstress from the besieged town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, the presence of Ukrainian troops in Kursk feels like betrayal. Pokrovsk, the administrative center of an industrially significant area with a pre-war population of nearly 400,000, is at risk of being captured by advancing Russian forces.
The Russian troops are less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Pokrovsk, advancing inch by inch after months of intense bombardment and frontal assaults on Ukrainian positions, resulting in significant casualties for the Russian military.
Pokrovsk and the transportation infrastructure it encompasses have been crucial for Ukrainian military operations. Its potential takeover by Russian forces could potentially breach the front line and serve as a propaganda victory for the Kremlin.