KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces are engaged in “clean-up” operations to free the remaining Ukrainian soldiers from the ruins of Bakhmut, a senior Ukrainian official said on Monday, as the Kiev’s military commanders sought to shift focus away from their apparent loss of the city to the battle for its suburbs.
The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, General Oleksandr Syrsky, admitted over the weekend that only a small group of Ukrainian troops were currently inside Bakhmut, a tacit admission that Russia had prevailed in the campaign to capture the country. their city lasted almost a year. General Syrsky said that small number of troops will continue to defend their area to give “the opportunity to enter the city in the event of a change.”
The comments signal a change in the way Ukraine is portraying The most dangerous campaign of the war when Russia successfully declared its first major battlefield since last summer. For months, even as their control of Bakhmut shrank to a few blocks west, Ukraine would insist on fierce fighting to prevent the Russians from taking the city. Officials appear to be acknowledging that their focus is shifting from defending Bakhmut to making it difficult for the Russians to keep it.
While many of Kiev’s battlefield claims cannot be verified, it is clear that Ukrainian forces have made small gains in recent weeks north and south of Bakhmut, break a Russian defensive position in an important battle that began on May 6.
Speaking during a visit to Ukrainian soldiers on the eastern front on Sunday, General Syrsky announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces are continuing to make advances in the suburbs of Bakhmut and are “about to encircle the city.” tactically”. But the Ukrainian military did not provide details on where it would advance.
reclaimed territory
by Ukraine since
May 10
Almost right
city boundary
reclaimed territory
by Ukraine since
May 10
Almost right
city boundary
reclaimed territory
by Ukraine since
May 10
Almost right
city boundary
reclaimed territory
by Ukraine since
May 10
Almost right
city boundary
On Monday, Major Rodion Kudriashov, commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Shock Brigade, said Ukrainian troops continued to make small but important victories around the city.
“We are trying to sense the weak points of the enemy and gradually, step by step, we are trying to eliminate him, take positions that are favorable to us, gain the initiative,” he said in a statement. Interview with the Ukrainian television station RBC-Ukraine.
Some analysts say the Ukrainian statements appear to be an attempt to cover up the defeat in Bakhmut.
Konrad Muzyka, a defense analyst with Rochan Consulting, wrote Monday: “Discussions about a tactical encirclement are premature and may reflect a hasty response to the fall of the city.” .
However, that does not mean that Russian control of the city is guaranteed. Much may depend on the plans of the whimsical and flamboyant head of the Russian group of Wagner mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose fighters spearheaded the Russian assault on Bakhmut. Hours after declaring “victory” over the weekend, Mr Prigozhin said he would withdraw his fighters starting Thursday.
“From June 1, not a single Wagner PMC fighter will come to the fore until we have gone through reorganization, refit and additional training,” he said.
Withdrawing troops from an active front is no simple task and could leave Russia vulnerable to attack by Ukrainian troops on the high ground on the outskirts of the city. Given the widely reported tensions between Wagner and the Russian military leadership, and communication problems within Russian ranks, analysts suggest that Ukraine will be watching for cracks to exploit.
Even if Mr Prigozhin does not withdraw his fighters now, military analysts note that Russia will face challenges in controlling Bakhmut, especially as Ukrainian forces is preparing a counterattack that could escalate the fighting along other areas of the 600-mile front.
“Russian forces will likely need additional reinforcements to hold the city of Bakhmut and its flanks at the expense of operations in other directions,” wrote the Institute for the Study of War. its latest analysis on Sunday.
Ukrainian and British military intelligence both report that there is evidence that the Russian military is sending thousands of troops to the area.
Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, said on Monday that while “the enemy is sweeping the areas of the city under their control,” Ukraine is continuing its “struggle for supremacy.” ” around the city.
Currently, the Ukrainian soldiers have accomplished their main objective in the battle for Bakhmut, she said.
“The attack potential of the enemy has been greatly reduced,” she said. “The enemy has suffered great losses, and we have had time for certain actions that can be described later.”
