ON Ukraine’s bloody frontline, a besieged town dubbed Putin’s “prize jewel” is being fiercely defended.

In the latest episode of Battle Plans Exposed, intelligence officer Philip Ingram analyses the “cauldron city” Russia is desperately trying to get its claws on.

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Ukraine have been heavily defending the key town for over a year[/caption]

The key town of Pokrovsk is strategically critical for Putin’s territorial ambitions.

It is a vital railway and transport hub – which if captured could give Russia a huge supply line advantage, Ingram says.

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He also tells how Ukrainian forces have been bravely defending the town for over a year.

Nicknamed the “gateway to Donetsk” by Russian media, controlling the key crossroads city of Pokrovsk would make it lot easier for Putin to seize the rest of the area.

Detailing the gruelling battle, the military expert described it as a “cauldron” city – completely surrounded by Russian occupied land.

Ingram says: “Russia is trying to surround it [Pokrovsk] and close the sides of the cauldron in to isolate the Ukrainian troops that are stuck there.

“Ukraine has been defending it bravely for over a year now.

“This will remain Russia’s main effort in its battle to try and push the Ukrainians.

“Vladimir Putin himself has put this as something that is critically important for him.”

Comparing it to another tiresome battle fought between Russia and Ukraine, he adds: “This is another Bakhmut for the Russians.”

The fight for Bakhmut ended after months of tense fighting, bombing and drone strikes in 2023 – with some analysts describing it as the bloodiest battle of the entire war.

Highlighting how badly Putin wants the town of Pokrovsk, Ingram cites one recent desperate attempt to seize it.

A few weeks ago, just hours before Donald Trump‘s historic summit with Putin, Russian forces punched through the frontline.

Russian forces aimed to stretch over the sides of the “cauldron city” and surround it.

Analysts warned that if successful, Putin would have used the sudden thrust in momentum and new land as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Don.

Luckily, Ukraine thwarted the manoeuvre – piercing right through their two-pronged advance and putting the threat to rest.

Ingram claims Russia’s attack was ill-prepared – explaining how they failed to turn their toehold into a foothold and exploit their new territory.

He says: “They clearly hadn’t planned this in detail, because whenever you break through a defensive line, you need a follow on force.”

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Ukraine are defending the Donetsk Oblast, which Russia partly occupies[/caption]

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Ukraine’s military is facing over 100,000 Russian troops encircling Pokvrovsk[/caption]

Ingram also explains why he believes Russia is focusing on Pokrovsk rather than Zaporizhia as “it’s main effort on the ground”.

He says: “It’s because the Russians have invested so much time, so many personnel, into trying to capture this area – and Pokrovsk is key to the capture of the rest of the Donetsk Oblast.

“The Donetsk Oblast is the one element where Russia doesn’t own everything that’s in the disputed Donbas region.”

British defence intelligence estimates Russia needs another four years and two million casualties to capture the rest of the oblast.

The expert also tells how Russia is trying to distract Ukraine at other points in the frontline so they can focus more power on Pokrovsk, overwhelming defensive positions.

He says: “Along the whole of the front line, Russia is probing. It’s trying to create the conditions for a breakthrough.”

Citing a recent reported buildup of Russian troops near the frontline Zaporizhia Oblast, Ingram says that this move may be a distraction tactic.

Although the oblast has critical access to the Dnipro River, and Russia already occupies two thirds of the region, Donetsk is still their main focus, Ingram explains.

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The frontline city of Pokrovsk, pictured[/caption]

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Ukraine’s military have outsmarted Russian war doctrine[/caption]

Pokrovsk will be the key to unlocking the rest of Donetsk Oblast, he claims.

The episode also takes a look at Russia’s flawed aerial strategies and outdated manoeuvres.

Taking a deep dive into the beginnings of the war, Ingram explains how the world expected a “blitzkrieg from the havens” on Ukraine when the invasion broke out.

But after Russia bungled the “battle for the skies” many began to wonder how they dropped the ball despite having such an overwhelming advantage.

Summing up Putin’s failure to take Kyiv in the early days of the war because of the defeat in the air, Ingram says: “The battle for the skies of Ukraine has been a story of shocking miscalculation, incredible ingenuity and brutal adaption.”

Referring to Russia’s colossal strength in its air force, he says: “On paper, this was never a fair fight.”

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Ukrainian soldier defending Antonov Airport in Hostomel[/caption]