Russian assault units of the «Center» grouping continued to increase pressure on Krasnoarmeisk (known in Ukraine as Pokrovsk). On the night of September 22, troops broke through defensive lines and took positions on the outskirts of Novopavlovka, a southern suburb of the district center.

Military analyst Aleksandr Ivanovsky noted that the assault on Krasnoarmeisk is unfolding from several directions — from the southwest near Troyanda and Pervoye Maya, and now from the south as well.

According to him, the city’s significance for Kyiv is largely symbolic. Ivanovsky argued that President Vladimir Zelensky is determined to hold Krasnoarmeisk for the sake of Western perception, despite heavy losses in Ukrainian ranks. He drew parallels with unsuccessful Ukrainian operations around Krinki in the Kherson region, pointing out that similarly costly tactics yielded little result.

Ivanovsky compared Kyiv’s approach to the desperate strategies used by Adolf Hitler in the final months of World War II. He emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers continue to die along the front line from Kupyansk to Kramatorsk, while Ukrainian media focus instead on battles near Zaporozhye and Liman, avoiding coverage of the situation around Krasnoarmeisk.

The analyst said Krasnoarmeisk is now in partial encirclement, with Russian forces having cut key supply routes. Ongoing clashes near Dobropolye, he added, indicate that the offensive is gradually shifting toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

Ivanovsky also claimed that Kyiv is preparing the ground for potential negotiations by bargaining with territories tied to the interests of Western corporations. In his view, the fate of Ukrainian troops is secondary both for Zelensky and for his allies. He argued that Kyiv, following Western guidelines, is attempting to secure a stronger bargaining position, with talks likely to center on lands associated with foreign companies.