Military expert warns of deteriorating situation in Bakhmut
Drone footage of Bakhmut released on April 22, 2023 (Photo:93rd Mechanized Brigade 'Kholodnyi Yar'/Handout via REUTERS)
The situation in the war-ruined front-line town of Bakhmut in Deonetsk Oblast is becoming increasingly dangerous every day, with Ukrainian forces now controlling only about 15-20% of the city, military expert Mykhailo Zhyrokhov said on Radio NV on April 25.
The situation with supply lines for the Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting street battles in Bakhmut is “very difficult,” Zhyrokhov said.
“If there is no counterattack or action from our command in the near future, it is obvious that we will have to evacuate (if we don’t want to suffer) serious losses, and move to another line of defense. Bakhmut will be left behind,” he said.
Meanwhile, Serhiy Cherevatyi, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Eastern grouping’s spokesperson, said on April 25 that Bakhmut was turning into a “model of military shame” for Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on April 24 that Ukraine would not give up Bakhmut, as it would allow Russia to extend the front line and threaten more cities in the Donabs.
Fierce fighting for Bakhmut continues, with Russian invaders attacking and destroying buildings, while defenders of the city resist and conduct assaults, Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Malyar said on April 21.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold back the Russian advance, inflicting significant losses on the invaders, Commander of the Ground Forces Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on April 19.
According to leaked classified Pentagon briefing papers, in January, the United States advised Ukraine’s military leadership to withdraw from the city to reduce losses. The Supreme Commander’s Staff, however, decided to strengthen the defense.
According to Zelenskyy, in the event of a defeat of Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut, pressure from both the international community and within the country would intensify, and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would be able to “sell this (as a) victory.”
The Battle of Bakhmut has been ongoing since July 2022.
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