ISW and many experts believe that the battle for Bakhmut will be the culmination of the Great Russian-Ukrainian War. After this battle, the offensive potential of Russia may dry up completely, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine will go on the counteroffensive.
Former adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Rostislav Smirnov, on Channel 24, expressed the opinion that Bakhmut had already become a climax. In his opinion, the Ukrainian troops will hold him until there is a big threat of encirclement of the city.
Culmination in Bakhmut
According to the interlocutor, it is no longer so important whether the Ukrainian forces will withdraw from Bakhmut or will defend it until Russia is completely exhausted. Like, the city has already exceeded its mission.
That big offensive, which was used to frighten everyone, which was used to frighten our people, which was used to frighten the Europeans, has been going on for a long time. But let's be frank: Soledar is the only city they have been able to take since the summer of 2022,” said Rostislav Smirnov.
He also notes that in order to capture Soledar and advance somewhat in Bakhmut, the “second army of the world”:
- used the reserves
- carried out the second wave of mobilization,
- transferred most of the equipment in this direction,
- began to receive ammunition from Belarus and dump it there.
“With all this, they were able to advance several kilometers, a maximum of several tens of kilometers. From a military point of view, this is “zilch,” said the ex-adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The interlocutor emphasized that the Ukrainian military and their heroism are behind this “zilch”. They were able to neutralize the so-called “new big offensive” of Russia.
Rostislav Smirnov about the battles for Bakhmut: watch the video
While the APU will hold Bakhmut
The former adviser to the Minister of the Interior assured that no one would hold the city until the moment when our troops there could get into the ring. Now the situation there is under control, and Bakhmut is one of the key topics in the discussions of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander.
Bakhmut is now concentrating almost all Russian troops in this direction. Not only manpower, but also equipment. It restrains it and inflicts extremely heavy losses on the enemy,” explained Rostislav Smirnov.
He noted that it was during the defense of Bakhmut that the daily losses of Russians reached a thousand manpower and dozens of pieces of equipment. Namely, this is the key condition for the spring counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“This is the depletion of the enemy's forces, this is the destruction of their morale and combat capability in general. During this time, we are preparing new units. All this will lead to the fact that we will be able to launch a counteroffensive,” the interlocutor concluded.
Bakhmut: latest news
- Bakhmut remains a key and active area of fighting between Ukraine and Russia in early spring 2022. Russia wants to seize the city for its political purposes, while Ukraine is preparing for its own counteroffensive.
- Alexander Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, explained that Ukraine gains valuable time in Bakhmut for preparation every day. Russia at the same time is losing its most combat-ready units.
- Sergei Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Russia is reinforcing its troops with airborne units in this direction. The occupiers continue to use the tactics of small infantry groups.
