Ukrainian troops remove Russians from Bakhmut positions.

Ukrainian Forces Oust Russian Troops in Bakhmut Amid Fierce Battles

The Battle for Bakhmut Takes on Symbolic Importance

The battle for Bakhmut has been raging for 10 months, with both sides looking for a breakthrough. However, Ukrainian units have recently ousted Russian forces from some positions in the city amid fierce battles. Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ukrainian commander of ground forces, stated that “the situation (in Bakhmut) is quite difficult,” but “in certain parts of the city, the enemy was counterattacked by our units and left some positions.”

Russia Exhausts Military Stockpiles with Over 20,000 Fighters Killed in Ukraine

The White House believes that more than 20,000 Russian fighters have been killed in Ukraine since December, with half of them from the Wagner Group. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner, stated that his fighters needed 300 tonnes of artillery shells a day for the assault on Bakhmut, but were only receiving a third of that amount. Despite taking heavy losses, new Russian units are being “constantly thrown into battle for Bakhmut,” according to Syrskyi. However, the enemy is unable to take control of the city.

Kyiv Expected to Launch Counter-Offensive Soon

Kyiv is widely expected to launch a counter-offensive soon to retake swathes of territory in the east and south that were occupied by Russian forces following the invasion 15 months ago. The battle for Bakhmut has become the fulcrum of a war that has seen little shift in front lines since late 2022.