RUSSIA/UKRAINE: Russia has been fixated on seizing Bakhmut, the Ukrainian city, for a long time. This battle, however, as stated by Ukraine’s commander in chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, is “stabilising” after 20,000 to 30,000 Russian troops lost their lives or were injured in the region last summer, as reported by Western officials.
Zaluzhnyi acknowledges that the Ukraine forces’ determination and strength have been holding Russia back from launching fresh attacks despite Moscow being desperate for a victory as it has not been able to accomplish much in recent times.
Zaluzhnyi mentions on Facebook that despite the fact that the Ukrainian war situation “is the toughest in the Bakhmut direction due to the tremendous efforts of the defence forces, we are managing to stabilise the situation”.
Oleksandr Syrsky, commander of the country’s ground forces, mentioned on Thursday that Russia’s troops had been “exhausted” in Bakhmut, adding that Russia has not given up hope of taking Bakhmut at all costs despite losses in manpower and equipment they are losing significant strength.
Ukraine’s counter-offensive the previous year was successful. “Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya, and Kupiansk,” Syrsky says.
According to the UK, a Ukrainian counter-attack to the west of Bakhmut could reduce the pressure on an important supply route to the city, and Russia’s attack on the city could be losing its “limited momentum.” On Thursday, the Institute for War mentioned that the Ukrainian forces “continue to exhaust the mercenaries, which will enable Ukrainian forces to pursue unspecified future offensive operations.”
Wagner is a private, mercenary organisation in Bakhmut, and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhun, has staked his position on capturing the city. A few thousand remain out of a total population of 70,000 people who lived in Bakhmut before the invasion.
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