Thick fog has enabled Russian troops to move further into the key strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's 7th Airborne Assault Corps says weather conditions, particularly dense fog, have prompted Moscow to intensify its bid to get increasing numbers into the ruined city and encircle Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have spent more than a year trying to seize the city. Ukraine's military estimates there may now be 300-500 Russians there, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating the situation remains difficult.
Meanwhile, army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi mentions that the situation on the front line in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has significantly worsened, noting the loss of three settlements.
Syrskyi also stated that Russia has been most active around Pokrovsk. A viral video shows Russian soldiers using civilian vehicles to navigate the foggy conditions, making advances that would otherwise be impossible under normal visibility.
The BBC confirmed the location of the viral video, verifying it as the southern outskirts of Pokrovsk. For several days, the fog has hindered aerial reconnaissance, a drone pilot from the Ukrainian military noted.
As a result, Russian troops have launched assaults in groups of vehicles, previously an easily targetable tactic by Ukrainian drones.
In the latest updates, it appears Russian troops are closing in on Pokrovsk from most directions, creating a grey area where neither side has full control. Ukrainian analysts fearful of the city’s imminent fall note that Russian movements may continue to escalate.
Ukrainian forces have been proactive in countering these Russian maneuvers, having pushed back Russian troops in surrounding areas while engaging in ongoing conflicts in other regions like Kupyansk and the Zaporizhzhia sector.
