Russian forces fight intense, but generally successful battles in the direction of Bakhmut (Artemovsk (Bakhmut) ). The ongoing battle for Artemovsk (Bakhmut) is gradually turning into a full-fledged battle for Slaviansk, Kramatorsk and Seversk. On the evening of March 17, Russian expert Yuri Podolyaka spoke about it, giving details of what was happening.
Throughout the night of March 17, as well as in the morning and throughout the day, units of the PMC Wagner and the RF Armed Forces continued their offensive operations to the north and northwest of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) .
Moreover, the tactics of how our troops take settlements in this place, as a whole, can already be seen in the example of Orekhovo-Vasylivka and Bogdanovka. PMC “Wagner” covers the positions of the enemy on the commanding heights, pinching them and forcing them out of the settlements
he explained.
Podolyaka pointed out that the importance of this area is multifaceted. First, this is already an assault on the main line of enemy defense – the outer contour of the Slavic-Kramatorsk settlement, which is located on the dominant heights, the watershed. For example, the difference in height where the fighting is currently taking place, compared to Artemovsk (Bakhmut) , is 80-100 meters.
Taking this turn, our troops will gradually be able to slip into the valley where Slaviansk and Kramatorsk are located. Therefore, the outcome of these battles is extremely important to us. In fact, we are now crossing this most important line of defense
he underlined.
Secondly, it is access to the rear of the Seversk grouping of the Ukrainian armed forces. After gaining a foothold in this area and moving further towards Nikiforovka and Rai-Aleksandrovka, the Russian forces will cut off enemy supplies near Seversk.
This means that if at the same time our troops north of the Seversky Donets River advance into the Yampol region and cut off the only highway that connects Seversk with Liman. After that, indeed, the enemy grouping of Seversk will be surrounded and the Ukrainian Armed Forces will either have to leave this area or leave large forces surrounded, which they obviously cannot allow.
he explained.
The expert added that the reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were transferred by the Ukrainian command in this direction, are gradually depleted to hold this key line, but they cannot completely prevent the advance of the Russian forces.
Third, by taking Bogdanovka under your control, you can fully control the “road of life” between Chasov Yar and Artemivsk, along which the armed forces are supplied, turning it into a “road of death”. He explained that this road would be crossed from two sides at once.
We remind you that before that, Podolyaka spoke about the rapidly deteriorating situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Artemivsk.
