The situation in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, is very difficult. The Russian army is actively storming the northern part of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian military personnel continue to perform tasks to defend the city, restraining the advance of the Russians.It is worth noting that the information from the German publication Bild about the complete capture of the city by the Russian forces does not correspond to reality.I remind you that on December 3, Julian Röpke, in an article for Bild, wrote that Pokrovsk allegedly came under the control of Russian troops. According to the journalist, "the capture of Pokrovsk indicates the inability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to stop the Russian offensive, but only to slow it down."According to the spokesman of the General Staff, Dmytro Lykhoviy, the Defense Forces hold the northern part of Pokrovsk along the railway line and continue to localize the centers of Russian units. Despite the intensity of the fighting, Ukrainian military personnel are working to strengthen logistics in the Pokrovsk area and neighboring Myrnohrad. One of the key tasks remains to deter the Russian forces and prevent them from forming new assault groups.Currently, Russia is trying to create preconditions for taking control of the logistics of Ukrainian units and depriving them of the opportunity to rotate. In turn, the Defense Forces provide additional logistical routes to supply units in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad."The Russian troops have changed tactics and are trying to push the Defense Forces out of Pokrovsk. Street battles are ongoing, and these are high-intensity battles characterized by heavy losses of personnel of the invading Russian forces. In the area of responsibility of the East operational-tactical group, the daily losses of Russian invaders amount to about 500 people."According to Ukrainian Colonel Vladyslav Selezniov, the Russian army loses about 30,000 people every month – 65% of them are directly killed. However, pressure on the Donetsk region continues. The Russians are trying with all their might to capture Pokrovsk. Failing to do so before the start of negotiations, the city began to be "captured" on Russian TV.The Russian dictator lies about the successes of his army to both internal and external audiences. He needs to calm social tensions within the country against the backdrop of military failures.I note that in four years of full-scale invasion, Russia has not been able to achieve even the intermediate goals of its so-called "special military operation.""About 30% of the territory of the Donetsk region is under Ukraine's control. And this is primarily an ideological, informational, political collapse of the so-called "special military operation." This is happening amid rising tax rates: VAT increased from 20 to 22%. Amid a fuel collapse, where more than 80 subjects of the Russian Federation have already experienced what a fuel crisis is. This is happening amid reduced funding for social, budget-protected items, including pensions, education, and medicine."The second target audience is our American partners. The Russian dictator wants to show: if Ukraine does not agree to withdraw its units from the territory of the Donetsk region, then the Russian army allegedly has the opportunity to solve this problem by military means. But we have seen, both in the example of Kupiansk and in the example of Pokrovsk, that a month has passed since the first statements of the Russian dictator, and there are no changes on the line of combat engagement that would indicate such a statement by the Russian dictator.Currently, our task is to hold Pokrovsk for as long as possible, at least while the negotiation process continues, so as not to allow the Russians to use this card to strengthen their positions. It is difficult to make predictions. The retention of not only Pokrovsk, but also the rest of the Ukrainian-controlled part of Donetsk region depends exclusively on a political decision and negotiations."From a military point of view, Pokrovsk is attractive to Russia due to the prospect of reaching the administrative borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region. After all, there is a flat plain further on, where it will be quite difficult to restrain the Russians. The events in the Zaporizhzhia region are an example of this."Accordingly, from a military point of view, Putin perfectly understands that the four industrial cities of Donetsk region, which are united in an agglomeration, are practically impossible to capture in the nearest historical perspective. The losses in Bakhmut alone, which is not a large city compared to Kostiantynivka, amounted to 90,000 personnel for the Russians. In addition, they stormed Bakhmut for 9 months. Here, the question is about capturing 4 industrial cities.The political part is that Putin needs to show at least some intermediate and positive results for the occupying country of the so-called "special military operation."I remind you that in recent days, the Russian dictator and Kremlin media have been actively spreading false information that the front line in Ukraine will allegedly inevitably collapse.Specifically for EspresoAbout the author. Dmytro Sniehyriov, military expert, co-chairman of the NGO Prava Sprava.The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.