Russia is repeating its tactic of isolating Pokrovsk to launch an offensive against the Fortress Belt
The Russian army has begun employing the tactics it used during its offensive in the Pokrovsk direction in 2025 to create conditions for a new advance. According to analysts, the occupiers are attempting to isolate Ukrainian defenses ahead of attacks on the so-called “Fortress Belt” in the Donetsk region.
Currently, a similar strategy of isolating the rear is unfolding around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which form the northern part of the “Fortress Belt” in the Donetsk region. This is stated in an analytical report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the ISW’s assessment, the air interdiction strategy involves the active use of aircraft and drones to strike the immediate rear areas in order to directly influence the situation on the front lines.
In 2025, the Russian army employed a combination of missiles, guided aerial bombs, and drones to carry out systematic strikes against ground communication lines, transportation infrastructure, military training grounds, and railways.
According to analysts, these actions made it possible to partially cut off Ukrainian supply lines in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole areas prior to a subsequent ground advance. In 2026, Russia is attempting to implement a similar scenario in the north of Donetsk Oblast.
The main objective of the Russian strikes is to cut off Ukrainian units defending the “Fortress Belt” from a steady supply of supplies.
Ukrainian and Russian sources have repeatedly reported the negative impact of the attacks on logistics. In particular, nighttime cargo transport in the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk areas has become significantly more difficult.
To amplify this effect, Russian forces are increasing the number of strikes on locomotives, which play a key role in military transport.
In addition, in July 2026, the Russian command received 1,000 “Molniya”-type loitering munitions with orders to intensify strikes on rear-area targets in Kramatorsk and its environs.
At the same time, Russian forces have intensified their attacks on bridge infrastructure.
Geolocated footage from August 2 confirms that a Russian MLRS strike severely damaged the Cherivkivsky Bridge across the Kazenny Torets River east of Sloviansk.
The bridge is of critical logistical importance, as it connects the city to Highway H-20 in the direction of Kramatorsk. According to estimates by Russian military bloggers, it was one of only three bridges in Sloviansk capable of withstanding the weight of heavy military equipment.
According to the ISW, the destruction of such infrastructure is intended to make it as difficult as possible for Ukrainian forces to regroup and resupply with ammunition ahead of a possible intensification of the Russian offensive.
Analysts also note that Russian troops continue to shell civilian infrastructure in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
A geolocated video published on August 2 captures shelling of a Ukrainian position on the northwestern shore of Lake Velykyi Bakai near Ozerny, northeast of Sloviansk.
According to the ISW, strikes on residential infrastructure may be part of efforts to depopulate cities ahead of possible offensive operations.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, on August 3, Russian shelling damaged at least 15 residential buildings in Sloviansk and caused fires in residential buildings in Kramatorsk.
Source: ISW
As a reminder, Russia has put its new “Banderole” cruise missile into serial production.
Throughout June and July, Russian forces carried out 16 attacks on food infrastructure facilities in the Odesa region. About 80% of these strikes were carried out using “Banderol”-type drones.
Photos of a new Russian ground-based launcher for the S8000 “Banderole” cruise missile have appeared online. Analysts at Defense Express believe that such a system could pose a new threat to Ukraine, as it would allow missiles to be launched without the use of carrier drones and would significantly reduce the response time of Ukraine’s air defense forces.
