What purpose would Ukraine have for blocking aid workers from entering Bakhmut if they were not getting ready to withdrawal.
“The Ukrainian Army said that it would no longer allow aid groups in the city because of the danger posed by street fighting. The ban on volunteer access could suggest a prelude to a Ukrainian withdrawal, although the Ukrainian military has insisted it retains control of the city, can resupply troops and can evacuate its own wounded.”
They are in a tenuous position there.
Ukes fly SEAD and ground support missions every day. Orcs just stated entering Ukranian airspace again recently, in the last week they’ve lost 4 su24/5’s and 6 helicopters
Latest report has brits giving Ukes air to ground missiles with a range of 450 MILES. For the first time in this war the Ukes will have the same stand off capability as the Orcs
To keep them from being killed by the mercenaries. It says as much in the quote from your link.
Crazy footage showing the madness of the Russian offense.
…
The scenes are chaotic: Russian tanks veering wildly before exploding or driving straight into minefields, men running in every direction, some on fire, the bodies of soldiers caught in tank tracks.
Russian military bloggers are calling it a fiasco, and worse.
These scenes have been recorded by Ukrainian military drones over the past two weeks around the town of Vuhledar in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, where successive Russian assaults have failed.
Pretty sure one of those countries can absorb a lot more troop loss.
can they?
Russia has the same problem as everyone else.
Very few children.
2 more russian aircraft shot down yesterday. 1 ea su24/5
Mainstream media is gradually starting to admit that reality.
Russia gains ground in Bakhmut: ‘Little by little they are winning’
Yes after months and months of slog and tens of thousands of dead, the Russians might be able to take the small inconsequential town of Bakhmut. Pyrrhic victory is an understatement.
Problem is Russia doesn’t have to win they don’t need to move another inch. 60%-70% of all Ukraines energy infrastructure is already destroyed. At this point a win is not moving and just lobbing missiles at their cities and infrastructure.
This has officially entered a static war of attrition, Ukraine can’t win that and unfortunately for those thinking the masses will rise up against Putin and remove him are just wrong he is as popular as ever in Russia.
Look at the post above you by Hexenbiest Russias economy is growing Ukraines has retracted 35% of which 60% are now below the poverty level and close to 20 million (Mostly Women) of their total population of 50 million left. How much more winning does the Ukraine need now
it’s been a year it’s not going to end and neither side has the strength to push the other out. A forever war with Ukraine in ruins or a peace deal.
Yes, back in September, the New York Times said Bakhmut is “strategically important” in the “critical” Donbas region, but I expect that any mention of the importance to disappear once Russia takes full control.
The battle for the critical Donbas region in Ukraine is centered on two strategically important cities: Lyman, held by the Russians, and Bakhmut, held by Ukraine. The fighting over the cities is fierce as both armies race to claim new ground.
https://www.nytimes.cf/2022/09/26/world/europe/ukraine-donbas-russia-lyman-bakhmut.html
From what I see the town of Bakhmut itself is not particularly important. On the other hand, the deaths of tens of thousands Ukrainian soldiers in the vain defense of Bakhmut have severely depleted the Ukrainian army. In addition, the high ground next to Bakhmut will allow Russian artillery to easily attack Ukrainian positions in Donbas
The town of Gettysburg was of little strategic importance to the defense of the South in 1863. On the other hand, the losses that Lee’s Army suffered at Gettysburg were irreplaceable and proved to be decisive in the war.
I think some fail to realize that Russia will just pummel the place to the ground before letting them join NATO which they consider a big red line. Only way to win is for NATO troops to be on the ground fighting Russians. 31 Abram tanks aren’t going to do it nor leopard tanks. It will take a bigger military than Ukraine to drive Russia out.
People will have to start asking how far are the willing for this to escalate as they keep running through NATO ammunition and western (Mostly American) taxpayer dollars
Again- since the war started, Ukraine has taken back half the land Russia had conquered. In the Fall alone, Ukraine took back the stolen parts of Kharkiv province and Kherson city and the surrounding region. Then as winter fell, the front has been fixed. That will almost certainly change again as Ukraine receives a huge input of tanks and artillery.
We are talking about 15 % of Ukraine that they are fighting over now. If it ends now with Ukraine keeping its sovereignty and 85 % of its country that is still far better than being conquered.
But Ukraine understandably wants more of their land back. We shall see how it goes in the Spring and Summer as Ukraine readies for its next offensive. If things stall out at that point with about the same front line, I will agree that its time to consider a peace agreement. But at this point? Ukraine has a right to fight for its sovereignty just as we would do if some nation attempted to conquer the US.
Well, actually, it would’ve been better to have pushed for a peace deal when they pushed Russia out of Kherson and Kharkov instead of waiting to get bogged down by Russian defense positions. This is what happens when people who think they are military geniuses don’t listen to their four star general Miley who said now was the time for a peace and was ignored.
They don’t have the manpower to drive Russia out and even if they did which they won’t Russia would just keep lobbing missiles into Ukraine, they are not going to let Ukraine join NATO. Who here is onboard to see this through this war for the next 20 years.
They have already went through the billions given by the west they are running low on ammunition while we have been told the Russians couldn’t build a tank or didn’t have parts to fire a missile yet NATO is saying Ukraine is going through more shells faster than they can make them.
Churchill had a great quote about Russia.
“Russia is never as strong as she looks; Russia is never as weak as she looks.”
Ukraine retook Kherson and the surrounding land in November. Its a few months later. The front is at a standstill through the winter which is understandable. Ukraine will be receiving far range artillery and top grade tanks that likely will help them with their offensive in the Spring. That could take place anywhere along that long front.
They have shown the recent ability to drive Russia out of cities and land without the aid of these tanks and arty. Its quite likely that Ukraine can go further with that military support.
If it doesnt happen, then push for “peace”.
russia has been days away from taking bakhmut for 6 months,
no, it won’t.
