This was stated by Pavlo Lakiychuk, head of security programs at the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, live on Espreso."The situation is difficult. And indeed, the most dangerous section that needs attention is between Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka. After breaking through Ukrainian defenses and cutting the Pokrovsk–Kostyantynivka route, the enemy had time to regroup, bring up reserves, and decide on further offensive directions. They chose as the main one to cover the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration from the north. Facing resistance there, they moved further north, and now they are advancing towards Kostyantynivka from one side. This forms a kind of pocket to the east, I’d call it the Toretsk pocket, where the situation is very serious. On one side, Russians are pressing from the south and entering from the rear. On the other, they are moving directly towards Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka. In the Pokrovsk direction, the city of Pokrovsk, the key to both our defense and the Russian offensive, is where they are focusing their main efforts," he said.Lakiychuk stressed that if the Russian breakthrough is not contained, the concept behind the Ukrainian defense line in northern Donbas will collapse."In addition to the two earlier directions, there is a frontal offensive from south of Soledar towards Pokrovsk from the southwest, with a bypass through the Pokrovsk–Mezhova highway towards the Pokrovsk–Pavlohrad highway. So far, the enemy has not reached the Pavlohrad highway, heavy, fierce fighting continues there, but a key factor has emerged: overhanging Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad from the northeast. And not just because of the Ukrainians’ strong defense, the Russians are also shifting part of their forces north. This lets them advance along the second line of our so-called fortress cities, entering the rear of Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk. This tears apart the entire structure of our defense. If this penetration is not contained, the concept behind our defense line in Donbas, in northern Donbas, will collapse. And this is a very, very, very critical situation," the military expert said.Since the start of August 11, there have been 168 combat clashes along the Russian–Ukrainian front, with the Russian forces most active in the Pokrovsk direction.