Pokrovsk, a town in north-east Ukraine in the Donetsk region, has long been surrounded by Russian troops and the noose has been tightening. It is reported that Russian soldiers, who are now fighting in devastated parts of the town, will soon capture it. After the fall of Pokrovsk, a logistics hub of road and rail links, the way would then be open for Russia to advance against the last remaining strongholds in Donetsk. The BBC reports as follows: “If Pokrovsk falls, defending its satellite city of Myrnohrad becomes untenable and Russian troops would then be able to turn their focus to the battle for Kostyantynivka to the north-east and the rest of the so-called “fortress belt” cities of Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.” The capture of these cities will substantially complete Russia’s defeat of Ukraine’s forces in the Donetsk region. With the Luhansk region almost fully in the hands of Russia, the entire Donbas region of northeastern Ukraine will be in Russian hands. This is the area which Russia has incorporated as part of its homeland.