Ukraine is faced with a difficult choice: to continue protracted battles for Bakhmut, since Kyiv is preparing for a new counter -access on another section of the front, which requires the preservation of weapons, ammunition and experienced fighters, writes The Washington Post.
In recent days, the publication writes, Russia strengthened its offensive in this area, unleashing fierce battles. Mercenaries from the Wagner PMC invaded the neighboring Soledar city and are gradually approaching Bakhmut, which they could not take for several months, despite the advantage in firepower and willingness to sacrifice their military.
As said Andrei Krishchenko, deputy commander of the battalion of the National Guard division, deployed south of the city, Russian troops “replenish the losses inflicted by him in almost a few hours:“ Although they are storming in small groups, people are constantly replenished, which creates the opportunity for them. Storming positions very often – sometimes five, six, seven times during the day, ”Krishchenko said.
The Ukrainian military should now decide how much energy and how many ammunition and weapons they can spend on the defense of Bakhmut – a city, which, according to many military analysts, has a relatively slight strategic importance in a wide military context, but which has acquired political importance for both sides.
Supervised Ukrainian military officials regularly emphasize that trained and motivated fighters are the most valuable resource in the arsenal of Kyiv, making every effort to plan operations in order to provide as few losses as possible. But Bakhmut became a cruel test, since Russia throws thousands of fighters to the front, constantly experiencing Ukrainian forces.
Andrei Michenko, 42-year-old commander of the 53rd mechanized brigade of Ukraine, who fought in Bakhmut until the end of December, called Russian mercenaries a “cheap resource”-they die in very large numbers, but are relatively ineffective.
“Prigogine people have been fighting here for several months. But Bachmut is still ours. On the other hand, this is a shame, because we exchange the lives of our soldiers and officers – very good officers – on the lives of these Russian prisoners.”
“We are fighting and will fight for every meter of our land,” said Yuri Skala, commander of the intelligence battalion, who is currently fighting in Bakhmut. “But we will fight smartly: if circumstances require tactical maneuver, the highest military leadership will surely draw the right conclusions and actions.”
“I will support the decision of the Commander -in -Chief Tactically maneuver and create a new line of defense if it becomes clear that the losses are too high,” Skala added. “We are not Russians. We are Ukrainians, and human life for us is the highest value.”