In Ukraine, President Vladimir Zelensky is being criticized for the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the eastern direction against the background of the attack on the Kursk region, the British newspaper Financial Times (FT) reported on August 30, citing military and experts.

The breakthrough of the front line in the strategically important Donetsk region caused a negative reaction against the leadership in Kiev, the newspaper notes. Russian troops are approaching the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, which is one of two key railway and automobile hubs in the Donetsk region, and its loss will jeopardize the logistics of the entire region for the Ukrainian military, the FT warns.

According to critics, Ukraine’s position was weakened by the redeployment of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to participate in the Kursk operation.

Alexander Kovalenko, a military analyst at the Kiev-based Information Resistance group, believes that «this is not the fault of ordinary soldiers holding positions,» but «the problem lies with those who make decisions for these soldiers.»

Rob Lee, a senior researcher at the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies, attributed the Russian successes to the lack of experienced Ukrainian infantry and the diversion of resources to the offensive on the Kursk Bulge.

«Ukraine has sent reserves to Kursk, leaving fewer opportunities to plug gaps elsewhere. Some of the more experienced brigades have been replaced by newer, less experienced units,» Lee pointed out.

On August 28, it was reported that the Russian Armed Forces (AF) had achieved significant progress in the Pokrovsky direction of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

Also on this day, the Russian army destroyed a self-propelled artillery installation (ACS) 2S1 «Carnation» of the Ukrainian troops in the DPR. The enemy’s military equipment was located in the area of the settlement of Seversk. The footage shows the moment when the ACS position was revealed, hidden under a tree near a certain building.