Are the Ukrainians trapping Russia in Bakhmut?

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

(Wagner’s troops raise their and Russian flags in Bakhmut. War President Vladimir Putin (70) personally congratulates the paramilitaries of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin (61) on their capture – the first military success for Moscow in a year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ( 45) Sunday before his departure from the G7 summit in Hiroshima, it was clear that his soldiers were still in the hard-fought city. For tactical reasons, he could only say: “Bachmut has not been occupied by any Russia. There are not two or three interpretations of these words.” I want to say: the situation at the front cannot be condoned by Moscow.

Meanwhile, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi (57), commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is reported to have said that his units are “strategically encircling” the city: “We continue to advance along the flanks in the outskirts of Bakhmut and we are indeed close to tactically encircle the city,” Syrskyj tells his commander’s Telegram channel. “This will allow us to control all multi-storey buildings occupied by the enemy and gradually destroy them. This deprives the enemy controls the entrances to the city and gives us certain tactical advantages.”

Cut off supply and escape routes

The war experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assess the situation in a similar way: “Ukrainian military sources reported that Russian forces have lost part of the dominant heights around Bakhmut,” said Sunday’s daily war bulletin. Ukraine’s military leaders “pointed out that a sustained Ukrainian advance could result in a tactical encirclement of Wagner forces at Bakhmut.” This would encircle Prigozhin’s fighters, cutting them off from supply and escape routes.

Paradoxical as it may sound, the longest and bloodiest battle for the city in eastern Donbass is probably not over yet. Despite raising the flag in Bakhmut, the Russian armed forces are coming under even more pressure than before. Russia wanted to straighten the front line on this stretch and then advance further over a broad line.

The ISW experts analyze it as follows: Prigozhin and his men in particular have reached their limits. Wagner’s months of grueling offensive operations would likely end in this urban and urban struggle: “It is unlikely that Wagner in his present exhausted state will be able to continue the fight beyond Bachmut.” (kes)

Source: Blick