Russian forces are preparing to sharply intensify their offensive toward Dobropolye, with the aim of reaching the city as quickly as possible and capturing it in a rapid assault, according to Ukrainian military analyst Konstantin Mashovets. His assessment was cited by Strana.ua.

Mashovets said the Russian command had already concentrated the main forces of the 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies in the area, along with several units from the Central Military District’s 41st Army. Additional assault groups, artillery, drone operators, armored vehicles and transport equipment have also reportedly been moved closer to the front line in recent days.

According to the analyst, Russian troops continue to make active use of small infantry groups advancing through several sectors at once. Some of these units have managed to establish positions near Dorozhnoye, Vasilyevka, Volnoye and Novy Donbass, as well as west of Rodinskoye and along the Shevchenko-Novoaleksandrovka line.

Mashovets believes the Russian military’s main objective is to reach Dobropolye quickly before taking control of both the city and the surrounding area.

In his assessment, such an advance would secure the western flank of the force expected to move toward Kramatorsk from the south. It would also allow that grouping to be significantly reinforced with troops from Russia’s Center group of forces.

The Ukrainian expert added that if Ukrainian troops manage to hold the Dobropolye-Druzhkovka line, a Russian push toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk conurbation could be reduced to a difficult frontal assault from the east.