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Possibly this will be a result that may hasten the end of this war. But we’ll have to see. The West is now talking about a stalemate because they don’t see a victory for Ukraine. They predict a standoff like in Korea. It’s not clear to me that the Russians feel the same way about their chances of winning.
#Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #BakhmutHasFallen The result of one of the bloodiest battles in the 21st century. pic.twitter.com/39oAeNNlYK
— The Balkan Independent (@BalkanInd) May 20, 2023
As can be seen in the satellite photo below, the Russians (in red) have almost completed the painfully slow process of ejecting the Ukrainians from Bakhmut by reducing the city to rubble via artillery bombardment. The Ukrainians are probably down to a few thousand soldiers with the bulk having already retreated out of Bakhmut to the nearby towns of Chasiv Yar and Ivanivske.
But supposedly the final stronghold is structurally reinforced and may even be hiding a tunnel system out of the city. Previously it was believed that this stronghold of tall apartment buildings was being held by some of the most battle-hardened professionals in the Ukraine forces. Whether that is still the case is unknown. But the fighting at this point may even be harder and bloodier than what came before in this already grueling battle.
The Ukrainians are attempting to hold onto the town until after May 9th which is the anniversary (in Russia) of the end of WWII in Europe. They want to deny Russia the propaganda boost that the date represents in the Russian mind. Looks like it could go either way.
After the end of the Bakhmut conflict it is widely believed that the Ukrainian counterattack will commence. Well, that is if the ground dries out sufficiently for heavy vehicles to move easily through the mud. Apparently the rain for the last couple of weeks has rendered the fields impassable. Hell of a war they’ve (or we’ve) got going there.
The mapping sites following the Ukraine war now show the encirclement of Bakhmut by the Russians reaching a critical stage where the two remaining paved roads that allow re-supply of men and materiel and retreat of vehicles, are under fire control by the Russian positions.
The descriptions I’ve listened to by Ukrainian soldiers of the situation on the ground are horrific. The combat situation consists of small groups of Ukrainians hunkered down in sheltered positions and Russians sending small patrols to draw their fire followed by artillery and mortar fire being used to dislodge or destroy those Ukrainian positions. They say morale is rock bottom. They describe what seems like endless barrages of artillery forcing them to retreat to new positions day in and day out.
Grim stuff.
Update:
Warpig’s analysis:
“Standard Russian tactics. Little change from WWII other than the range of missiles and artillery. Putin and his commanders care little about casualties. They just bombard everything, including civilians and hospitals and children, then throw masses of infantry and tanks at the target. That wouldn’t work against NATO but Russia carefully picks less capable targets. NATO would hand them their heinies, especially in air supremacy. But Zelinski is short on air power. Russia is corrupt and incompetent but they have a crapload of artillery and conscripts, and numbers can be a power of their own. I would love to be the US commander of a division if Russia tried to invade Poland, but as a Ukranian, not so much.”