The fighting for Bakhmut (Russian authorities call the town Artemovsk (Bakhmut) ) has been going on in the Donetsk region for almost eight months now. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner PMC, whose fighters are taking part in the battles for the town, claimed in early March that Bakhmut was “virtually surrounded”, he suggested that the Ukrainian army leave the village. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the importance for Ukraine of the task of protecting Bakhmut, while the Ukrainian leader’s office admitted that the Ukrainian armed forces could carry out a strategic withdrawal from the city if necessary. The Eastern Herald understood what was happening in Bakhmut and its surroundings.
In a March 3 summary, experts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) declared that the Ukrainian armed forces could create the conditions for a controlled withdrawal of troops from certain areas of Bakhmut. They cite footage showing that the Ukrainian army destroyed two bridges in the area of the town – one over the Bakhmutovka river and the other over the highway leading to the village of Khromovo west of Bakhmut.
The institute speculates that the destruction of the bridges could indicate that Ukrainian forces expect to hamper the advance of Russian troops in the eastern part of Bakhmut and limit potential escape routes to the west.
Analysts believe that if the Ukrainian command decides to withdraw from Bakhmut, then there will be a limited and controlled withdrawal of troops from the most difficult sectors east of Artemivsk.
On the same day, the British Ministry of Defense also wrote about the destruction of bridges. In its review, British intelligence called one of them “vital” because it connected the town to Chasovy Yar – through which the armed forces supply their positions in Bakhmut. The agency believes that Ukrainian forces are reinforcing the northern outskirts of Bakhmut with elite units.
“Russian army and PMC Wagner forces continue to advance towards the northern outskirts of the city, which is now held by Ukraine, but are vulnerable to Russian attack from three sides,” the report said.
At the same time, on March 6, the ISW noted that the Ukrainian armed forces were probably carrying out a limited tactical withdrawal of units from Bakhmut.
In a March 7 report, the British Ministry of Defense noted that over the weekend Ukrainian forces were likely able to stabilize the defensive perimeter north of the city after Russian attacks. The report notes that the battles for Bakhmut continue to deplete forces on both sides of the conflict.
What does the Russian side say
March 3, the press service of the founder of PMC Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin broadcast his video message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . He claims that the Wagnerians “virtually surrounded Bakhmut, there was only one road left”.
Telegram channel “Rybar” on the evening of March 6 writing that the Ukrainian command would carry out a partial evacuation of the Bakhmut garrison. According to him, the only roads to Konstantinovka and Chasy Yar are “under the control of fire from Russian units, so the withdrawal is carried out along country roads under constant shelling”.
In turn, the Ukrainian armed forces, according to Rybar, are carrying out counterattacks on the Bogdanovka-Krasnoye line and on the Konstantinovka-Bakhmut highway in order, according to the channel, “to preserve a physical corridor from the city in the event of a crisis complete”. withdrawal.”
Journalist Yury Podolyaka writing in his Telegram channel that throughout the night of March 7, Ukrainian forces allegedly left Artemivsk in small groups. He also noted the counterattacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Ivanovsky region, the purpose of which is to unblock the road to Konstantinovka and drive Wagner PMC units away from the outskirts of Chasovoy Yar.
On Tuesday, March 7, adviser to DPR leader Denis Pushilin Yan Gagin said that Russian forces already control “almost half” of Bakhmut.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on March 7, speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the armed forces, declared that “the liberation of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) continues”.
“This city is an important center of defense for Ukrainian troops on Donbass . Getting it under control will allow new offensive actions deep into the defense COULD “Shoigu said.
He did not provide specific data on the situation in the city.
What does the Ukrainian side say
According to Serhiy Cherevaty, a representative of the Eastern Group of Ukrainian Armed Forces, there is no mass withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut. About this he said CNN on March 4. He noted that the fighting was mainly taking place on the outskirts of the city, which is controlled by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Commenting on reports of the withdrawal of some units, Cherevaty said Ukrainian troops are “changing positions in Bakhmut under controlled planned rotations”. On Saturday, fighting took place around Bakhmut – in the villages of Vasyukovka and Dubovo-Vasylivka to the north of the city, as well as in the villages of Ivanovskoye and Bogdanovka to the west.
In the March 5 summary, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informed that Russian forces “not give up on attempts to encircle Bakhmut”.March 6 German tabloid Bild released material, which claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief Valery Zaluzhny disagreed on how the Ukrainian military should continue to operate in Bakhmut. According to Bild, Zaluzhny recommended a few weeks ago to think about withdrawing from Bakhmut. The same position is shared by most of the city’s fighters, writes the German edition.
On the same day, the office of the President of Ukraine issued a message that Zaluzhny and the commander of the operational strategic group of troops “Khortitsa” Alexander Syrsky believe that the defense of the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region should follow . They said this at a meeting of the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, answering a corresponding question from the President.
“They spoke out in favor of continuing the defense operation and strengthening our positions in Bakhmut,” the message read. The Office of the President of Ukraine did not name Zaluzhny and Syrsky.
