According to Zgurets, despite all the difficulties, Bakhmut will be retained.
Around Bakhmut A typical war of attrition continues in the Donetsk region. Considerable forces and resources are spent on both sides – both Ukrainian forces for defense and the occupiers for attack.
Military expert and director of Defense Express Serhiy Zgurets in his column for “Espresso” wrote that for the occupiers to approach the outskirts of Bakhmut or even surround the city is the only chance to inflate tactical success to at least some kind of victory. He emphasized that an advance of at least 100 or 500 meters can be presented as a victory on Russian propaganda channels, since on in all other directions, the enemy has systematic strategic defeats.
“By the way, in the last day, Muscovites have already started naming many towns south of Bakhmut, where it seems that these settlements were captured by the Wagnerites. They talk about Kurdyumivka, and about Klishchiivka, and Andriivka, and Zelenopillia, but if you consider the reports of the General Staff of Ukraine , then it can be said that after incredible losses, the enemy has limited tactical success, except in the village of Ozeryanivka. But this is a positional war, and in this zone in six months the situation resembles a “swing”, when the enemy stops, covers him with fire, and he suffers losses. And then we fight back the positions where the enemy has advanced into our territory. I think this will continue to be the case,” the expert noted.
According to Zgurets, despite all the difficulties, Bakhmut will be retained.
“Especially if ground reserves and artillery will be used by the Ukrainian forces, because all this will be unnecessary for our fighters who hold Bakhmut and the defense line around it,” the expert summarized.
The situation around Bakhmut: what is known
Andrii Illenko, an officer of the “Freedom” battalion of the 4th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, said that in recent days the shelling Bakhmut became more intense. The enemy destroys the city, but it is under the control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty reportedthat Bakhmut remains the epicenter of the main battle for Ukraine. On average, the enemy inflicts about 180-200 artillery strikes per day.