Putin advances on Ukraine’s Pokrovsk amid eastern struggles

In recent weeks, Russia has been facing challenges in its border regions as it forms volunteer forces to counter Ukraine's counter-invasion efforts in Kursk. The governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, announced the establishment of a volunteer combat reserve force, while Ukrainian officials reported similar developments in Russia's Bryansk and Belgorod regions. Despite some limited redeployment of Russian units to Kursk, the majority of defense efforts have relied on existing border and internal security forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Moscow had diverted 60,000 soldiers from Ukraine to bolster defenses in Kursk. Meanwhile, Russian forces have made advances towards Pokrovsk, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, capturing towns such as Novohrodivka and Hrodivka. Zelenskyy has referred to the territory gained in Kursk as an 'exchange fund' for potential peace negotiations, emphasizing Ukraine's unwillingness to negotiate over its territory. Putin, during a visit to Siberia, dismissed the significance of the incursion and suggested that Ukraine would eventually seek genuine peace negotiations. He also hinted at a government shake-up in anticipation of an important autumn for Ukraine, with two cabinet ministers moving to the presidential administration for greater influence. Concerns have arisen regarding the Biden administration's potential decision to allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory with US weapons. Reports indicate that the US may soon supply Ukraine with advanced missiles, raising tensions as Russia claims to have intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones and missiles. The ongoing conflict continues to evolve, with both sides preparing for significant developments in the near future.