A counter-offensive against “depleted” Russian forces near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine could soon be launched. This was stated by the commander of the ground forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Sirsky, quoted by “France Presse”.
“The aggressor has not given up on capturing Bakhmut at any cost, despite the loss of manpower and equipment. The main fighting force of Russia on this front is the Wagner mercenary group,” he pointed out.
“By sparing nothing, they lose considerable strength and become exhausted. Very soon we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did at Kiev, Kharkiv, Balaklia and Kupyansk” Sirsky emphasized, referring to the successful counter-offensives of the Ukrainian forces last year.
His assessment of the fighting comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he had visited Ukrainian forces near the Bakhmut front line.
Kyiv claims that Bakhmut is a key city for the containment of Russian forces along the entire eastern front.
Both sides have thrown a lot of resources into the fight, though analysts say the city has little strategic value.
Prigozhin warned of a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive, including against Belgorod
Kiev will try to separate the mercenaries and the Russian army
Earlier this week, Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces controlled about 70 percent of the city, and Yan Gagin, an adviser to the head of state of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin, announced that Bakhmut was “practically surrounded ” by Russian forces.
The months-long battle for Bakhmut, currently home to only about 5,000 of its 70,000 population, has been one of the bloodiest battles of attrition during the year-long Russian invasion. Bakhmut is not a particularly big city, but after many months of efforts to hold it there is a serious symbolic meaning for the Ukrainian army.
Taking Bakhmut would not only give Russian fighters a rare battlefield victory after months of setbacks, but could cut off Ukraine’s supply lines and allow Kremlin forces to advance on other Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donetsk region.
British intelligence: Ukraine launches counter-offensive in Donetsk region
The battles for Bakhmut continue
