In Bakhmout, the fighting is furious. In this city in Donetsk Oblast, in eastern Ukraine, the balance of power between Vladimir Putin’s army and Ukrainian forces is tense. “The most difficult situation is near Bakhmout, like the previous days. We continue to maintain our positions,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explained a few days ago.
About fifteen kilometers from the Russian positions, members of the 58th motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian forces prepare to attack the enemy.
“It is a very good place to shoot, with very good visibility. Most of the damage is done by artillery. There is a saying that ‘the sweat of the artillery saves the blood of the infantry,’” says a soldier.
“They are sent in waves to the slaughterhouse”
Because opposite, on the Russian side, mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary group are sent into battle every day. According to these Ukrainian soldiers, the Russian army “does not consider” these mercenaries “as human”. “They are sent in waves to the slaughterhouse,” says Sergeant Petrohka.
The Kyiv forces are forced to use their weapons and empty their magazines. “After using our ammunition, the professional soldiers arrive. That’s their tactic.”
“Considerable losses for our positions”
“The strategy of the Russians has not changed since May. Thanks to the artillery, they cause considerable damage to our positions”, acknowledges Bear, battalion commander of the 58th brigade. “And meanwhile, their groups are moving. They’re not that big, they’re 10 to 12 people, and most of them are Wagners.”
Although the losses are not quantifiable, the Battle of Bakhmout is one of the longest and deadliest since the beginning of the conflict.
By September, the Ukrainian army had recaptured thousands of square kilometers in the northeast and south in a successful counteroffensive. Since then, the fighting has been largely concentrated in the east of the country, while continuing around Kherson (south).
Source: BFM TV
