These Two Cities Hold the Key to Russia’s Fight in Ukraine’s East - WSJ

Russia is piling pressure on Ukraine’s stretched front line in the east, setting up fierce battles for two cities that could bring it closer to achieving its current main military aim.

Moscow’s forces are targeting the Ukrainian logistics center of Pokrovsk and trying to seize the high ground in Chasiv Yar. Capturing those two cities would put Russia in position to try to take the rest of the eastern Donetsk region, which President Vladimir Putin has declared part of Russia.

Russia has been steadily advancing toward Pokrovsk, with its troops just a few miles outside the city. Pokrovsk is a larger city than Avdiivka—the most recent major Ukrainian city to fall—and Ukraine is fighting for it despite being outgunned and outnumbered.

via www.wsj.com