Daniel Davis Deep Dive Pokrovsk Breakthrough: How it Happened, Where it's Going /Lt Col Daniel Davis
Aug 21, 2025
Delve into the intricate diplomatic maneuvers behind the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the importance of aligning diplomacy with battlefield realities. Discover critical developments, including recent Russian advances in the Pokrovsk sector and Ukraine's strategic reactions. Unpack the shifting dynamics of drone warfare and air power, and understand the challenges faced by Ukrainian forces, including a manpower crisis and high desertion rates. Explore the military struggles intermixed with complex diplomatic dilemmas that shape this ongoing conflict.
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Ground Reality Drives Diplomacy
- Battlefield realities determine diplomatic leverage more than public talks or diplomatic theater.
- Russia is shaping its diplomatic posture based on gains and conditions on the ground.
Major Penetration Exposed Weak Depth
- Russian forces achieved an 18–20 km penetration, their largest in years, threatening Ukrainian defensive depth.
- That breach exposed Ukraine's last primary defensive line and raised questions about exploitation forces.
Drone Tactics Tilt Toward Russia
- Russia's drone employment shifted from parity to selective targeting of vehicles and logistics around Pokrovsk.
- That tactical drone advantage compounds Ukrainian material shortages and attrition problems.