Bachmut’s double tongs

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The Russian troops have practically surrounded Bakhmut. And for weeks. In recent days, however, the Ukrainians have been gaining land again and again. Small formations of Ukrainian troops have broken through at various points along the front, according to Russian military bloggers.

Blogger Alexander Kots writes on his Telegram channel with 654,000 subscribers: “Kiev’s counter-offensive has begun!” However, according to Western military experts, this is not entirely true. The attacks are local offensives in preparation for the major counter-offensive. The Ukrainian troops wanted to flank the Wagner mercenaries to the south.

Who surrounds who here?

With this maneuver, Ukrainian troops routed an entire Russian brigade. This is also the conclusion of Briton Mike Martin, who conducts research into war issues at King’s College in London. Behind this is a very specific military tactic, as he points out Twitter explained.

“If the Russian front collapses at this point, the Ukrainians will be able to encircle the Russian forces,” the military expert writes. The name of the tactic: the double encirclement, also known as the “pincer move”. The special thing about it in the current situation: First the Russian troops surround the Ukrainian Bakhmut, now the Ukrainians there themselves surround the Russian troops.

“Tongue flick” is an old military maneuver

The pincer move, or double encirclement, is a military maneuver in which troops simultaneously attack both flanks (sides) of an enemy formation, according to a scientific article from the US Army Research Lab. In this particular case, Ukrainian brigades are attacking Russian troops around Bakhmut from the northwest and southwest.

The classic maneuver is of great importance in the history of warfare. Famous generals such as Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan successfully used the tactic in their wars. And even in modern wars, the maneuver – as seen today – is still used.

Source: Blick