Ukraine Claims Battle Bakhmut Destroys Russia’s Best Military Units. PHOTO/Reuters
The comments by Mykhailo Podolyak are the latest signal of a shift in Kiev’s policy this week towards continuing the defense of the city of Bakhmut. The city was the site of some of the bloodiest fighting, as Moscow troops tried to secure their first major victory in over half a year.
“Russia has changed tactics,” Podolyak said in the interview published by Italy’s La Stampa newspaper. “It had assembled at Bakhmut, with most of its trained military personnel, remnants of its professional army, as well as mercenaries,” he continued.
“Therefore, we have two goals: To reduce their capable personnel as much as possible, and to improve them in some grueling main battles,” explained Podolyak.
“This is to disrupt their attack and concentrate our resources elsewhere, for a spring counterattack. So, today Bakhmut is really effective, even more than its main task,” he added.
Russia has made Bakhmut the main target of a winter offensive involving hundreds of thousands of reservists and mercenaries.
The Russians are reported to have captured the eastern part of the city and suburbs to the north and south, but have so far failed to close the circle around the Ukrainian defenders.
