Russian forces are attacking Bakhmut from three directions in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops and keep pressure on the devastated city in the Donbass region, which has become the focal point of Moscow’s offensive and where, according to the Ukrainian defense minister, every day the intruders are responsible for. up to 500 victims. But while the Russians are concentrating all their efforts on a line running from Kremina to Vuhledar, the Ukrainians are studying the counter-offensive and believe that a “decisive battle” will soon take place.
“The adversary continues its efforts to encircle the city of Bakhmut,” the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said. As a result of these actions, the Wagner mercenary group announced that they had taken control of the Stupki railway station, north of the city. A breakthrough at a huge cost, if we are to believe Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov: “Russian losses amount to 500 killed and wounded every day,” he told the German newspaper Image.
The battle for Bakhmut began in early August and Ukrainian soldiers held out even as Russian troops gradually overran the surrounding area and nearly closed off access to the city. For the former Chief of the British General Staff, Richard Dannatt, the city fulfilled its function of holding back the Russian advance at the cost of many invaders losses, so “it makes perfect sense” that the Ukrainians are now retreating to a more protected area.
Kiev wants to launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks to regain territory, although to do so will have to rely, at least in part, on tanks and other armored vehicles promised by the allied countries. On Saturday, the Ukrainian ambassador in London, Vadym Prystaiko, announced that the British will double the number of Challenger 2 tanks to be sent, from 14 to 28.
In an interview with USA today, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence predicted “a decisive battle this spring, and this battle will be the last before the end of this war.” Kyrylo Budanov went on to say that “if the Russian army fails to meet its objectives this spring, it will run out of military assets”.
Speaking to Sky News, Dannatt also believes in the possibility of Ukraine achieving a decisive result on the battlefield in the coming months. “It is not necessary to defeat an army exhaustively and all over the battlefield. It is only necessary to convince enough soldiers that they have lost, and if they think they have lost, they have lost,” explains the British general who does not see a great future for the Russian leader in this case. “If your army disintegrates and runs away, chances are that army too will be wiped out of the Kremlin.”
Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side, it is said again that there are Russian troops who refuse to fight. This time, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a conflict is unfolding in the military leadership of Russia due to significant losses of men and equipment and the lack of victories on the front line.
In February, President Vladimir Putin promoted Eastern Military District commander Rustam Muradov to the rank of colonel general, despite the tank battle he fought at Vuhledar in which the Russians reportedly lost dozens of tanks and other armored vehicles. According to the Ukrainians, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu demands that the general take the city at all costs, which is not well received by the ranks of the soldiers.
“According to the information available, the brigade command and soldiers refuse to launch another futile offensive, as ordered by the incompetent leadership, storming the well-fortified positions of the Ukrainian forces without any support or preparation,” the statement said. said the General Staff.
Source: DN
