On November 4, the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha" interviewed military expert Ivan Stepak. The main topic was the situation at the frontline near Pokrovsk and the impact of Western weapons in the war.
Stepak emphasized that the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces has significantly worsened in recent days. Russian troops are steadily encircling Pokrovsk; the city is effectively being lost. Ukrainian forces are working to hold back the offensive and buy time for organized withdrawal and evacuation of personnel and equipment. Special forces units are carrying out targeted tasks to stabilize the situation and extract Ukrainian troops from danger.
The capture of Pokrovsk is important for Russia both politically and logistically. Loss of the city weakens Ukraine’s defensive capabilities in Donbas, but Stepak believes it will not lead to a collapse of the defense overall. The main priority for Ukraine remains careful planning of the defense of other cities like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
The interview also discussed the effectiveness of Western weapons, particularly long-range missiles and Storm Shadow systems. Stepak stresses that it is not the presence of individual weapons but the scale of deliveries that matters most. Russians have fired hundreds of missiles at Ukraine in a month, so small Western shipments are not decisive. Substantial, sustained arms supplies are necessary to change the situation at the front.
In conclusion, Stepak stressed that the outcome at the front is determined by the quantity of resources, both human and technical. Western assistance must be continuous to create an advantage and allow Ukraine to plan its actions effectively.
