The reality of Bakhmut: a constant struggle for survival
The Dombas remains the epicentre of the armed conflict between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatist forces. Bakhmut is one of the most important towns in the region and its control is key to the conduct of the war. The Russian enemy has done everything to take control of the town, including the use of shelling and gunfire. This has created an extreme situation for the Ukrainian defenders. If the Russian army were to capture the city, they would have an "open road" to other strategic points in the Dombas. This would be a significant victory for the Russian army and a major setback for Ukraine, which could have catastrophic consequences. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has therefore warned that everything possible must be done to prevent the Russian army from taking control of Bakhmut. In addition, at a meeting of the supreme commander-in-chief's headquarters, it was decided to continue the defence operation and further strengthen the Ukrainian army's positions in Bakhmut.
In the event of capturing Bakhmut, experts point out that Russian troops have to decide between two divergent directions of advance: advancing west on the T0504 road towards Konstantinovka or northwest on the E40 road towards Sloviansk-Kramatorsk, but nevertheless, Ukrainian troops have established a strong defence on these two strategic routes, with numerous land lines of communication to prevent a Russian advance, in order to secure the Ukrainian rear.
In contrast, Russian troops lack sufficient mechanised forces to mount a successful military campaign. The tactical "assault units" used to assault Bakhmut do not have the manoeuvre warfare capability necessary to deal a decisive blow to Ukrainian resistance. Russia's ability to win a military victory in Bakhmut is therefore limited.
The Russian Armed Forces are shifting their focus from manoeuvre warfare to frontal assaults to adapt to the new reality. This is reflected in the increasing use of "assault squads", battalion-sized units equipped with heavy artillery and prepared for attacks on fortified areas. However, these squads are not designed to operate outside urban environments and will not be able to compete successfully with more flexible approaches.
Russian military sources suggest that larger "breakout brigades" should be formed in order to open a wide and deep hole in Ukrainian defensive formations. These brigades should be a mix of mechanised and infantry forces, supported by artillery and anti-aircraft weapons. This would allow Russian forces to properly exploit any avenue of advance opened by the capture of Bakhmut. However, given the low morale levels of Russian soldiers, more resources would be needed to achieve total victory.
The spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Cherevaty, said: "There were 35 shellings and 12 skirmishes in the area of Bakhmut alone, 115 occupants were destroyed, 197 were wounded to varying degrees".
According to him, there were a total of 72 clashes in the surrounding settlements. Cherevaty also said that the situation on the front line remains tense, with combat clashes, small arms fire and artillery of various calibres. Strong resistance to the enemy's actions is being carried out to prevent penetration into the Ukrainian territory.
Over the past week, 19 houses have been destroyed in Bakhmut as a result of shelling by the Russian army. These destructions have brought the number of damaged or destroyed buildings in the region to 4,438. These losses reflect the impact of the war on the lives of civilians in the Donetsk region and are a reminder of the urgent need for a ceasefire and political settlement of the conflict.
In the area, the occupiers continue to assault the town of Bakhmut despite heavy losses. They also conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of Berkhivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske and Klishchiyivka. The Bakhmut Development Initiative (BDI) has estimated the damage to be only approximate as, due to the current situation in the region, it is impossible to establish the exact extent.
Bakhmut, 93rd Mechanized Brigade keeps fighting.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 7, 2023
? @Liberov pic.twitter.com/ekcMEtDfo8
The Russian army continues to move eastwards, seeking to control the town, but the fight for the liberation of Bakhmut will remain a priority for Ukrainian soldiers, who are defending the rights of local inhabitants and fighting to maintain their country's sovereignty. As a result, the fate of Bakhmut is still up in the air. As a reminder, Ukrainian forces have been fighting for months to keep the city under their control, but the Russians continue to push to take it, and the battle for the city has now reached its highest level of intensity.
