Ukrainian military achieves success on flanks in Bakhmut, says Israeli military expert
Ukrainian soldiers next to a captured Russian near Bakhmut. May 11, 2023 (Photo:Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS)
It appears that the situation in battle of Bakhmut is approaching a turning point in favor of Ukraine, believes Victor Vertsner, a military expert and reserve officer of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“It’s too soon to say, but it seems so because the Ukrainian forces are counterattacking on the flanks, creating certain problems for the Russian invaders in the Center of Bakhmut,” Vertsner said in an interview with Radio NV on May 13.
He also explained how the Ukrainian Armed Forces were able to achieve success, saying that “there is a certain difference between Russian troops, including Wagner mercenaries, who operate in the city itself, and Russian Armed Forces units that operate on the flanks.”
“There is a motivational difference. They are not as powerful, not as well-trained, and not as motivated. That is why the Ukrainian military is having some success on the flanks.
”Vertsner added that the invasion forces have retreated, mercenary company military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the retreat of the Russian Armed Forces’ 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade from Bakhmut, and alleging that they had left behind “500 dead bodies”.
The commander of the Azov Tactical Group, Andriy Biletsky, seemingly confirmed Prigozhin’s statement, reporting that the Ukrainian military had practically completely destroyed the 6th and 8th companies of the Russian 72nd Brigade during their offensive operations.
The commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, also stated on May 10 that Ukrainian defenders were conducting effective counterattacks on the Bakhmut sector, resulting in Russian occupiers retreating up to 2 kilometers in some areas of the front.
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