Retreat has effectively become the only battlefield option left for Ukrainian troops, according to military correspondent Dmitry Steshin. He said Kiev is prepared to give up territory temporarily in the hope that the situation will eventually shift in its favor.

Steshin told Gazeta.Ru that Ukrainian units pull back when faced with the threat of encirclement while waiting for Russia to exhaust itself or for some unexpected development to change the course of events. He described that approach as flawed and said the Ukrainian Armed Forces have no other alternatives.

At the same time, Steshin argued that the classic large-scale encirclement pockets seen in earlier wars are now virtually impossible. Even troops cut off from the main force can continue receiving supplies by drones for extended periods.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units of the North group of forces continued tightening the encirclement in the Kharkov region over the past week while expanding the area under their control around it.

During that period, Russian forces established control over Chernyakov, Shirokoye, Shevchenkovo, Olkhovatka and Malaya Volchya. The ministry said Ukrainian troops failed to break through the encirclement.

Ukrainian losses in the encirclement areas exceeded 390 servicemen over the week, according to the ministry. It also reported the destruction of eight armored combat vehicles, five cars, one field artillery gun, two quad bikes and 15 unmanned ground vehicles.