Selydove under siege: Ukrainian forces brace for retreat
Located in the Donetsk region, Selydove is nearing collapse. The Russians have approached the outskirts of the village of Vyshneve. Once they capture it, the city will be partially encircled. Ukrainian forces are already planning a retreat, reports Forbes.
27 October 2024 13:18
Russian troops are relentlessly advancing on Selydove, attempting to surround the city, which stands in the way of their main goal - capturing Pokrovsk, according to the fortnightly magazine Forbes.
On Saturday, Russian forces breached Ukrainian defensive lines and pushed south of Selydove. The Russians advanced along an inactive railway line and reached the village of Vyshneve. If Putin's troops capture this village west of Selydove, they will manage to partially encircle the city itself.
According to the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies, Ukrainian troops are holding their positions in Vyshneve, but this position "may not be strong."
As Forbes emphasizes, this is typical Russian tactics - partially surrounding a fortified position - in this case, a city - to force defenders to retreat. The magazine cites Vuhledar as an example of such an action.
"The fact that the Russians are on the outskirts of Vyshneve means that Ukrainians in Selydove are likely planning a retreat," it reads.
Pokrovsk as the main objective
However, the main target remains Pokrovsk, which is located to the northwest. The city is an important axis of Ukrainian defence in the region.
The American magazine emphasizes, however, that Pokrovsk is a much more challenging target than Selydove. "The Center for Defense Strategies, therefore, believes that the defence of the city will withstand the winter, and the upcoming battle for Pokrovsk will be the culmination of the enemy's offensive operation," it emphasized.
Gen. Ihor Romanenko assesses that the situation in Selydove itself is already critical. He emphasizes that leaving the city may be the only option, as the Russians are already breaching Ukrainian positions and organizing further assaults.
