On Thursday, the Ukrainian president reported that Russian attacks on the city of Bakhmut continued. He thanked all Ukrainian soldiers who resisted the invaders and stressed: “Every meter counts.”
In the course of the skirmishes between the Ukrainian and Russian armies, no stone has been left unturned in the former city of 74,000. There is not a single intact house far and wide. This is where the fiercest fighting is currently taking place. Videos on social media clearly show the devastation.
The battle for Bachmut claims many lives
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, 6,000 Russian soldiers were killed or injured in the attack on Bakhmut in the last two weeks of November. Former Ukrainian colonel Sergei Grabski now estimates 120 to 250 Russian deaths per day. These figures cannot be independently verified, but the high toll of Russian blood is striking.
“The Russians are sending wave after wave,” says Grabski. These are usually mercenaries from the infamous Wagner group or newly mobilized recruits. What is behind the stubborn attempts of the Russians, who have been trying to take the town for months? There are several theories about this.
Money beckons when you take it
Some see Bachmut as an important traffic hub. Others see Bakhmut as a crucial piece in the puzzle to conquer Donetsk Oblast. Sergei Grabsky does not believe in it. The Russians, especially Wagner’s mercenaries, are concerned about money.
The Kremlin personally ordered them to take the city. If successful, there is a high bonus on it. For Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigoschin, the conquest of the place is of great importance. He wants to rise further in Putin’s favor and consolidate his reputation as a ruthless and successful general. But it may be some time before Prigoshin can celebrate the next victory. The end of the fighting is not yet in sight.