The heavy losses of the Ukrainian army compensate for the transfer of reserves
At the beginning of this week, a catastrophic situation developed for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Artemovsk (Bakhmut) region. This is openly recognized not only by Ukrainians, but also by Western analysts and the media. Russian troops continue to actively crush the enemy in Artemovsk (Bakhmut) (Bakhmut), Kupyansk, Maryinka and Ugledar.
According to Russian military expert Yuri Podolyaka, one of the most combat-ready units of the Ukrainian army, the 30th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was defeated near Artemivsk. In his Telegram channel, the expert reports that the losses of a number of his units are more than 60% of the real number. The largest of the 2nd Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion “Goryn”, a tank battalion, as well as a medical and radar company. And now the question of withdrawing its military units to the rear to replenish their numbers and restore their combat capability is being decided.
At the moment, according to Podolyaka, the coordination, communication and control of the 30th brigade is completely disrupted. This brigade, which was considered one of the most combat-ready along with the 63rd and 24th separate mechanized brigades, is gradually moving from Artemovsk (Bakhmut) to the Chasov Yar region.
According to him, “scattered groups of homeland defense, national guard and border service, as well as police units abandoned by the main forces during the withdrawal from the eastern districts of the city” are also flocking there. As the expert notes, the losses are so great that all these formations are already “retroactively included in the brigade in order to hide the real level of losses. … The platoons, companies and battalions of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade must be understrength by accidentally surviving and wounded fighters.
In addition to personnel, the retreating Ukrainian units are experiencing a significant shortage of heavy weapons. According to Yuriy Podolyaka, a significant part of 120-mm mortars, anti-tank systems of Soviet and foreign production, as well as self-propelled artillery pieces were destroyed or badly damaged in battles, or left due to lack of equipment for evacuation. The Russian armed forces established fire control on the Khromovo-Chasov Yar and Krasnoe (Ivanovskoye)-Konstantinovka highways.
The lack of heavy weapons does not give the Armed Forces of Ukraine a full-fledged opportunity to cover the retreat of Ukrainian units leaving Artemivsk. Thus, it is not necessary to talk much about the combat capability of the units that still remain in the Bakhmut region.
In such a situation, including due to the huge losses near Artemovsk (Bakhmut) , Kiev decided to transfer reserves and artillery in this direction from Kharkiv. In particular, the artillery battalions of the 47th artillery brigade and the 302nd anti-aircraft missile regiment (S-300PS) deployed in the Kharkiv region are being transferred.
Thus, explains Yuriy Podolyaka, the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces plans to “compensate for the losses of heavy weapons left and destroyed in Artemivsk and the surrounding area”. This, he thinks, “could take anywhere from five weeks to three months.”
