Ukraine will possibly withdraw troops from Pokrovsk by the end of 2024 - Estonian intelligence suggests

Ukrainian forces may soon face a withdrawal from Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, warned Janek Kesselmann, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Military Intelligence Center, in an Oct. 4 report by ERR.

The city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for Ukraine's military, has been a focal point of intense fighting and a target of Russia’s ongoing offensive in the region. As of Oct. 4, Russian forces were positioned less than 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the city's outskirts, according to local authorities.

Over the past week, Russian forces have averaged 167 attacks per day on the frontline, with half of these targeting the Donetsk sector, Estonian military intelligence reported. Kesselmann also highlighted the capture of Vuhledar by Russian forces as a significant development in recent days.

Ukraine’s 72nd Mechanized Brigade had defended Vuhledar, a strategic town crucial to Ukrainian defenses in southern Donetsk Oblast, for nearly two years. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian troops had persistently sought to capture it. Despite withstanding multiple assaults, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Vuhledar on Oct. 2, after Russian troops entered the town the day before.

“Ukrainian units have likely repositioned about 7 to 8 kilometers (4 miles) to the north, adopting new defensive lines,” Kesselmann stated. "With Ukraine's withdrawal from Vuhledar, we can expect further consolidation of Russian operations in this direction."

Like Vuhledar, Pokrovsk has been one of Russia's primary objectives in the Donetsk front throughout the summer and early fall. The situation has caused significant disruption, with Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin announcing on Oct. 3 that residents in northern Donetsk Oblast are without water supply for an "indefinite period" due to ongoing Russian attacks.

Despite ongoing evacuations, around 13,000 civilians, including 94 children, remain in Pokrovsk. The town's pre-war population was approximately 60,000 as of January 2022. As the security situation worsened, Pokrovsk’s train station closed for civilian evacuations earlier this month. Evacuation efforts have since shifted to Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, located 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Pokrovsk.

“In the Pokrovsk direction, Russia has advanced 1 to 2 kilometers (1 mile) in the last week," Kesselmann noted. "The current distance to Pokrovsk's outskirts is approximately 5 to 7 kilometers (3-4 miles). If this rate of advance continues, Ukrainian forces may need to withdraw from Pokrovsk by the end of 2024 and adopt positions further back."

Shooting down Russian targets over Ukraine by NATO countries will involve the US in the war -Pentagon

Shooting down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine from NATO territory would effectively draw the United States into Moscow's full-scale war, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said during an Oct. 3 briefing.

When asked why the West couldn't assist Ukraine in intercepting Russian missiles, as it did during Iran's recent attack on Israel, Singh emphasized that these are "two very different landscapes and battlefields."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously suggested that neighboring NATO countries could help shoot down Russian aerial threats over Ukraine, but acknowledged that the allies "are not yet ready" for this level of involvement.

"What works in the skies of the Middle East, helping Israel's defense, can also work in the skies over our part of Europe – in Ukraine – and save lives," Zelensky said on Oct. 3. He added that there are "specific technical solutions and fully effective tactics" to achieve this.

On Oct. 1, Iran reportedly launched over 180 missiles at Israel amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Russia continues to target Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed drones and missiles, frequently striking civilian infrastructure.

Singh noted that Ukraine has effectively employed its air defense systems and other capabilities to reclaim territory, with Washington remaining aware of Ukraine's evolving needs. "The president has committed that the U.S. will not deploy boots on the ground in Ukraine, but we are supporting Ukraine in their efforts to reclaim their sovereign territory," Singh reiterated.

When asked if intercepting Russian air targets from NATO territories like Poland or Romania would constitute a deeper involvement, Singh responded, "That would involve us in the war in a different way." She added, "At this point, Ukraine has shown its ability to successfully defend against Russian strikes on its cities, population, and infrastructure, and we will continue to ensure they have the necessary support to do so."

Romanian authorities have uncovered drone wreckage near their border with Ukraine in the Danube River region on multiple occasions, with airspace violations by Russian drones or missiles also reported in Moldova, Latvia, and Poland. However, none of these countries have so far attempted to intercept Russian projectiles.

Russians attacked Ukraine's energy facilities in 6 oblasts

Power outages were reported across Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv oblasts over the past day due to ongoing attacks and combat operations.

In Sumy Oblast, an attack damaged a substation, leading to power cuts affecting other substations, residential areas, and one energy facility. Power has since been restored, but six workers sustained blast injuries and were hospitalized.

In Chernihiv Oblast, attacks on overhead lines and substations left 4,817 households without electricity. Power has been partially restored.

During an inspection near a substation in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an unexploded shell was discovered and safely removed.

In Kirovohrad Oblast, power outages affected a substation and residential consumers due to technical issues, though power has now been restored.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a power engineer was injured after stepping on a mine while working, resulting in an injury to one of his lower limbs. He has been hospitalized.