This was reported by Pavlo Lakiichuk, head of security programs at the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI,” on air with Espreso."Indeed, the situation in Pokrovsk is difficult. It didn’t just suddenly happen. This problem around Pokrovsk has been building up for some time, and not mostly due to our actions. The enemy has thrown everything it can at the Pokrovsk direction—half of the entire Russian military grouping that invaded Ukraine is now fighting on various parts of the front, and it’s concentrated around Pokrovsk from three directions. The enemy continues to storm Pokrovsk head-on from the south, continues trying to flank from the southwest to cut off the Pokrovsk-Pavlohrad highway. There’s also talk of a potential breach into Dnipropetrovsk region. And the latest act in this unfolding scene is the enemy cutting the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka route," he said.Then, the Russian forces attempted to advance from this breakthrough zone in two directions: simultaneously toward Pokrovsk and toward Kostiantynivka, but eventually realized it was too risky for them."Well, they then focused their movement on Pokrovsk. Now we see a clear picture: the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration is in a bowl-shaped encirclement from three sides. This is, to put it mildly, a very dangerous situation. And considering that Pokrovsk is a key point, that’s why they are concentrating here. Pokrovsk is a key for defending our entire left flank, for the Kostiantynivka-Druzhkivka-Kramatorsk agglomeration. It’s also the rear area for Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Losing Pokrovsk could trigger a domino effect along the entire front line. So the situation is very serious," he noted.The military expert remarked that the presence of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Pokrovsk indicates that the situation will significantly escalate in the coming days."And the fact that enemy groups have appeared in Pokrovsk was indirectly confirmed by Commander-in-Chief General Syrskyi, who was forced—after numerous reports from the front and military sources about enemy groups in Pokrovsk—to clarify that the enemy has not entered Pokrovsk but that sabotage-reconnaissance groups are operating there. You're placing emphasis on the ‘sabotage’ part, but we should also focus on the second element: they stand for sabotage-reconnaissance groups. These are military intelligence units sent into the rear to discover our positions ahead of decisive assaults. So they are proof that the situation will sharply escalate any day now. The enemy is preparing—though I wouldn't want to say—for a final assault on Pokrovsk. This is a point of debate between us. But we can already start comparing it to Avdiivka or the defense of Bakhmut. We now have to think about how to redistribute our forces for maximum effect in the defense of the city without losing the strategic and operational advantages we still hold while gradually losing the Pokrovsk hub," Pavlo Lakiichuk added.