This was stated by military-political analyst Alexander Kovalenko to "Espresso." He emphasized that this is currently a priority for the aggressor, so Russian troops may take active measures in the near future.
Kovalenko noted that Russian forces will attempt to advance along the Pavlivka - Bohoyavlenka route, particularly towards Bohoyavlenka, where the borders and defensive lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine begin. According to him, the enemy plans to exert pressure on Kurakhove from two directions — the east and the south. The tactic of encirclement is strategically important for Russian troops, as it enables a powerful strike on the city.
"In the Kurakhove direction, the Russians are actively using equipment that they are trying to reserve for other fronts. This indicates that preparations for the offensive on Kurakhove are being taken seriously," the expert noted.
He also highlighted that the events in this direction resemble the battles for Uledar, where the intensity of equipment usage was similar.
Furthermore, former SBU employee Ivan Stupak had previously stated that after capturing Uledar, Russian troops plan to intensify actions towards Kurakhove. He noted that combat operations are ongoing on many fronts – in the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.