As Map 2 suggests, the likely goal of the Russian army is to take control of the interfluve of the Solenaya and Volchya rivers.

To achieve this, several tasks should be fulfilled.

First, complete encirclement of the Ukrainian grouping in Kurakhovo.

Second, drive a deep wedge into the Ukrainian defenses and reach the border of the Dnepropetrovsk region, which will not only be an important militarily achievement but will have political significance as well.

Third, envelop the Pokrovsk agglomeration from the west, cutting it off from Dnepropetrovsk.

Working towards these goals, the Russian army has moved beyond the captured Novoalekseevka, continued its offensive at Solntsevka and Zarya and made important gains furhter south. On Thursday alone, Russian troops advanced 1-2 km along a fairly wide front (up to 15 km), launched an offensive north-west of Alekseevka and on the neighboring village of Yurievka.

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