Source: Colonel Ants Kivisalg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces' intelligence center, as quoted by ERR, "European Truth"
Details: According to him, the main offensive direction remains the Pokrovsk area in the Donetsk region.
"Russian troops continue their advance: they have reached the southern suburbs of Pokrovsk, and the village of Kotelino, southwest of Pokrovsk, is also under their control," Kivisalg noted.
In the Kurakhove direction, the villages of Dachne and Ulakly have been captured, and the next target likely to fall under the control of Russian armed forces will be the village of Constantinople.
There is a threat of encirclement for Ukrainian units in this area; however, the situation is somewhat alleviated by the Volchaya River, which flows through the northern part of the potential "cauldron" and serves as a natural barrier, he added.
According to Kivisalg, the advance has not been easy: in February, the Russian army has moved an average of one square kilometer per day while losing valuable equipment.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces have managed to destroy a Russian S-350 "Vityaz" air defense missile system and have also eliminated the heavy flamethrower system TOC-2 for the first time. Both systems were destroyed in Donetsk.
Kivisalg estimates that Russian occupation forces may be experiencing difficulties with artillery and its application.
"There are reports that Russia is expecting new deliveries of ammunition from North Korea for 122 mm and 152 mm caliber artillery systems, as well as various missiles," said the head of the intelligence center.
The supplies of ammunition, the redeployment of personnel and equipment from North Korea and other allied countries indicate a significant dependence of Russian troops on external assistance, despite attempts to present the situation differently, Kivisalg added.
Recall: British intelligence dedicated its review to data from the Russian independent publication "Verstka," which reported that the Russian military command is forcing those mobilized in 2022 to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense.
Moreover, the intelligence center of the Estonian defense forces assessed that in January 2025, the capture of one square kilometer of Ukrainian territory cost the Russian Federation the lives of 100 of its soldiers.