Occupiers put a lot of pressure on Ukrainian defenders in the Bakhmut area. However, given how events are unfolding around the city and the words of our defenders, the chances of keeping this city from the Armed Forces of Ukraine are quite large.
This opinion Channel 24 was expressed by military observer Denis Popovich. He is convinced that as of today the situation around Bakhmut looks exactly like this.
Bakhmut has become a symbol of Ukrainian defense
Ukrainian defenders, despite great pressure of the occupiers, trying to counterattack. Some positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can be recaptured, and in some places they have to retreat – the fighting continues and objects can change hands.
A very tense situation is taking place around Opytny, a village near Bakhmut, but we are holding our positions there and so far there is no reason to assert that the situation could change dramatically for the worse and we will be forced to leave this city (Bakhmut – Channel 24), which has become a fortified city, – said a military observer.
According to him, today it can be argued that Bakhmut has become a symbol of Ukrainian defense against Russian invaders.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to encircle Svatovo and Kremennaya
Over the past few days, the situation in the area of Kremennaya and Svatovoye in the Luhansk region has been turning in favor of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, unfortunately, these settlements are now under the control of the enemy.
We cannot yet say that we are on the verge of liberating these cities. Although the situation is similar to the fact that we are trying to surround these two cities, – said the military observer.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have taken control of the highway that runs between Svatovo and Kremennaya and are trying to cordon off these cities in order to force the enemy out of there. Given all of the above, we can say that the battle for Bakhmut is a failure for the invaders.
Popovich noted that the Russians are experiencing a failure near Bakhmut: watch the video
If the Russians managed to take Bakhmut, then nothing good awaits them
The Kremlin has set a task for its occupying troops to reach the administrative borders of the Donetsk region by the end of this year. However, today we see that the enemy will not succeed. So, the invaders put a lot of manpower to capture Bakhmut, but he is still under our control.
The Russians very often plan their operations without considering what is in front of them a kind of adversary – an army that will resist and carry out counter-actions, Popovich noted.
In his opinion, the same task was set for the occupiers in relation to Bakhmut – to capture the city before December 25. However, the deadline has already expired. Even if the invaders manage to capture Bakhmut, which is unlikely today, there are still settlements further on where the Armed Forces of Ukraine have built defenses. We are talking about Chasovoy Yar, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.
“Even if they manage to take Bakhmut, despite all the terrible losses and the failed offensive in the last few months, the big question is what they will do with Slavyansk and Kramatorsk,” summed up the military observer.
The Russians changed tactics near Bakhmut
- Bakhmut in the Donetsk region remains the main direction of the enemy's attack. The invaders concentrated all their forces there, trying to break through our defenses. Every day, the enemy suffers crazy losses in the Bakhmut direction, but still continues to advance.
- The Armed Forces of Ukraine said that now the Russians have somewhat changed their tactics in the Bakhmut direction. Thus, the invaders no longer operate as part of company or battalion tactical groups, but are divided into small groups of up to 20 people and dispersed across the battlefield. They are trying to get closer to the forward positions of the Ukrainian troops in order to engage in close combat.
- Military expert Mykhailo Prytula is convinced that a change in tactics will not bring any success to the occupiers at the front. In his opinion, such a change in tactics testifies to the great losses of the Russians, because the occupiers are reduced by 500-600 people daily.
