Ukraine insists that its forces are repelling relentless Russian attacks in Bakhmut, despite strange claims about Moscow seizing control of most of the eastern part of the besieged city. The gradual Russian advance and the high number of Ukrainian casualties have sparked discussions about a potential withdrawal from Bakhmut in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which has been devastated by months of fighting. However, Ukrainian officials state that Russian losses in Bakhmut are worse than their own, noting that they will pursue a strategy of attrition against the Russian army ahead of the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive in the spring.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated today that its forces continue to conduct military operations in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine, claiming to have killed over 220 Ukrainian soldiers in the past 24 hours. The ministry reported, "In the Donetsk direction... more than 220 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and one infantry fighting vehicle, three armored combat vehicles, seven vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed in the day."
Each side claims to have inflicted significant losses on the other, making it difficult to verify the numbers announced by each party. Ukraine reported on Saturday that more than 500 Russian soldiers were killed or injured within 24 hours in the battle for control of Bakhmut. Russian forces and troops affiliated with the private Wagner Group, which manages groups of mercenaries, have taken control of an area in the eastern part of the city and its outskirts from the north and south, but they have so far failed to completely encircle it.
Moscow asserts that capturing Bakhmut would create a gap in Ukrainian defenses and be a significant step toward complete control of the industrial Donbas region, a major objective of the war. The British intelligence agency reported that Wagner fighters have controlled most of the eastern part of the city over the past four days. They added that the Bakhmutka River, which runs north to south through the center of the city, now represents the frontline and could hinder Russian advances westward.
Recent satellite images show that the bridges across the Bakhmutka River, which were once surrounded by well-maintained vegetation and bustling walking paths before the war, have been destroyed. The British intelligence agency stated, "With Ukrainian units able to fire from fortified buildings to the west, this area has become a kill zone, making it likely very difficult for Wagner forces attempting to continue their frontal attack westward," noting that Ukrainian forces remain vulnerable amid ongoing Russian efforts to encircle them.
Ukraine has begun preparations for the "counteroffensive" or what is referred to as the "spring offensive" by receiving various advanced weapons that Kyiv has been requesting from the West and its allies, most notably the American Patriot system, which arrived in Ukrainian territory on Friday morning. Fighting has intensified in Bakhmut for several months, with both sides acknowledging significant losses, and precise figures are hard to verify. Moscow maintains that capturing Bakhmut would create a gap in Ukrainian defenses and represent a step toward seizing the entire industrial Donbas region, which is a primary objective.
