Russian weakness on the battlefield
Huge losses since February 24th
Vehicle losses are bad too
Estimates on lost Russian military equiptment
Ukraine’s General Staff estimated the losses to be 43 tanks, 75 armored personnel vehicles, and 69 other military vehicles of various categories.
The war’s new symbol
Bakhmut has become a symbol for both sides after nearly ten months of brutal warfare and it is unlikely that the fighting for the city will de-escalate this winter.
Bakhmut is an obstacle for Russia
For Russian leadership, Bakhmut is the last major obstacle laying between Russia and capturing the rest of Donetsk Oblast.
Ukraine’s major supply route to the east
Bakhmut is also a major supply center for Ukrainian forces that supply most of the eastern front and guards the pathways into central Ukraine.
Home to every highway
Prior to the Russian invasion, Bakhmut was home to 70,000 Ukrainians and was known as a major transportation hub that had most of Ukraine’s major highways intersecting through it.
Bakhmut is critical for Ukraine
“Taking Bakhmut would rupture Ukraine’s supply lines and open a route for Russian forces to press on toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk,” wrote Inna Varenytsia and Sam Mednick of the Associated Press, “key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk province.”
Russia wants all of Donetsk
“Pro-Moscow separatists have controlled part of Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province since 2014,” Varenytsia and Mednick continued, and they also noted that finishing their conquest of the region is a key Russia in the current war plan.
Losing is not an option
For Russia, losing in Bakhmut is not an option but they may not have a choice. Ukraine has mounted a heroic defense of the area and the country’s General Staff has been pouring in troops since the fall of Kherson.
The situation is grim
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the number of Ukrainian casualties is concerning and indicated that the situation in Bakhmut is grim during a recent address to the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky’s comments
“The situation on the front line is difficult. Despite extremely large losses, the occupiers are still trying to advance on the Donetsk region,” Zelensky said.
The city is destroyed
The quagmire in Bakhmut has also consumed the city and reduced its center and surrounding areas to rubble and trench lines reminiscent of World War I.
Reminiscent of WWI
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By: Miss Cherry May Timbol – Independent Reporter
