Ukraine seeks to wear down and inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces attempting to capture the small town of Bakhmut. This was stated by the head of the Ground Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Sirsky, quoted by “Reuters”.
In a video showing General Sirski addressing soldiers at a large industrial warehouse, he indicated that Russia remained focused on the Bakhmut area after months of fighting.
Moscow considers the capture of Bakhmut vital given its efforts to establish full control over the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.
“They (Russian forces – b.r.) do not stop trying to surround and capture the city,” noted Sirski in the video published in “Telegram”.
Ukraine: The front near Bakhmut has stabilized
Russia appears to be shifting to a defensive strategy
“To date our main task is to exhaust the numerous forces of the enemy and inflict heavy losses on them. This will create the necessary conditions for liberating Ukrainian land and accelerating our victory,” he explained.
Sirski is meeting with military personnel near the front lines as Ukraine prepares for a possible counter-offensive after 13 months of war. Yesterday he declared that the defense of Bakhmut was a military necessity.
He indicated that his meetings with soldiers near the front lines were necessary so that he and his commanders could develop a plan that would have “real results on the battlefield, not just on a map“.
His comment again emphasizes Ukraine’s desire to contain Bakhmut, rather than withdrawing his forces to limit casualties.
Ukraine will “very soon” benefit from the exhaustion of Russian forces in Bakhmut
Is the time ripe for the Ukrainian counter-offensive?
President Volodymyr Zelensky also visited troops in eastern, southern and southeastern Ukraine this month. Yesterday he met with his high military command in the city of Dnipro, which was the first such meeting outside the capital since the beginning of the war.
Zelensky reported that the meeting discussed the situation on the front line, reinforcements and border protection – from Kherson in the south to Kharkiv in the east, but did not give further details.
The roughly eight-month battle for Bakhmut, which had a total population of 70,000 before the war but is now virtually in ruins, was 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.
The defense of Bakhmut is a military necessity for Ukraine
Kiev does not intend to give up the city
