Military Overview: Turning Point Of Russian Assault On Bakhmut

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Russian and Ukrainian military sources unanimously claimed a turning point of the Russian assault on the city of Bakhmut which will soon become Artemovsk (the name of the city in 1924-2016, it became Bakhmut when the Kiev regime launched ideological decommunization of the country).

The fighting is shifting to the center of the city. According to the latest data, clashes are ongoing in the city market area which is located on the western bank of the Bakhmutka river 500 meters to the building of the city administration.

Ukrainian sources reported that the Wagner PMC has transferred reserves and launched a major assault on the center of Bakhmut from three directions. They also confirmed the fighting in the area of the city market, where 7 additional assault groups of the Wagner PMC were reportedly deployed.

According to Ukrainian reports, fierce fighting is also ongoing along Bazarnaya and Independence Streets to the south of the central market on the western bank of the Bakhmutka River.

In the southern Sobachevka district, the main front line lays along Mariupol street. The “Wagnerians” crossed the street. They mopped up the territory of School No. 5 and are now fighting near the bus station.

The Ukrainian military attempts to counter attack to prevent Russian forces from entering the city center.

Ukrainian positions under artillery fire in the city ccenter:

Chechen militants are hiding in apartments in Bakhmut. The head of Chechnya announced a $1 million reward for anyone who could give the exact location of the so-called Chechen battalions named after Dzhokhar Dudaev and Sheikh Mansur:

Wagner assault groups advance with fighting in the ruins:

Meanwhile, Wagner units are approaching from the northern direction.

Wagner fighters took full control of the industrial area in the northern districts of the city. The Artemovsky Metalworking Plant (AZOM) came under Russian control. Wagner sources are yet to officially confirm the reports. There is likely the final stage of the mop up operation in the underground facilities.

“We went unnoticed, the Ukrainian shooter missed us. I heard an enemy group talking behind the wall. I ordered the stormtroopers to come to me, and we joined the battle,” the commander of the PMC assault platoon described the battle in the southern part of the industrial area to the Russian.

Russian media are already working in the area:

From the north-eastern direction, Russian forces crossed the Bakhmutka river. Fighting was confirmed in the large Garage cooperative near the Bakhmut railway station.

The situation is extremely difficult for the Ukrainian military in the south-western district of Bakhmut, where Wagner fighters are approaching Korsunskoho Street. Russian forces took control near the Avangard stadium and approached the monument of the Mig-17 aircraft, which was destroyed by the AFU. The control of the area will cut the road from the city.

While Ukrainian forces are retreating to the western part of the city, in the case of Russian advance from the south-western direction, a large Ukrainian grouping may be surrounded.

Ukrainian servicemen filmed the entrance to the city along Chaikovskoho street:

The road in Khromovo:

In another interview, Wagner fighter claimed that the city is almost surrounded. The only road out of Bakhmut is under heavy artillery fire. Communication with the Ukrainian grouping in the city is carried out with great difficulties, and results in heavy losses of equipment and military personnel.

“Any attempts to dislodge (Russian forces) from their positions, including from the western part of the city, are futile: the Wagner fighters are holding on and not giving up the occupied territories.” – the fighter claimed.

According to him, the only problem is the lack of ammunition, since the offensive operations in the area require large supplies. However, Wagner fighter continue their advance despite any obstacles.

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On the outskirts of Bakhmut, the front lines remain almost unchanged.

In the south, Russian forces again approached the Konstantinovka-Chasov Yar-Bakhmut highway south of Ivanovskoye (Krasny).

To the northwest of Bakhmut, fierce battles continue near Orekhovo-Vasilovka and Bogdanovka. US sources reported Russian advance west of Zaliznyanskoe. At the same time, the AFU reportedly pushed Wagner forces away from one of the sections of the E40 Bakhmut-Slavyansk highway.

Fighting is ongoing on the western outskirts of Bakhmut and in Khromovo.

In the Bkahmut area, the Wagner PMC is supported by Russian Airborne troops and other unspecified units of the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Ukrainian servicemen wounded during the TikTok battle:

Losing their positions in the city, the Ukrainian side does not stop exploiting the “Bakhmut-fortress” narrative.

Head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny held phone talks with Tony Radakin, head of the British General Staff. Apparently, the public conversation of the top military officials was actively used by the Ukrainian propaganda machine in order to show “London’s unwavering support to Kiev in the fight for its independence”.

“I informed a colleague about the operational situation along the entire front line. The most difficult, on the Bakhmut direction. Thanks to the titanic efforts of the Defense Forces the situation can be stabilized,” – wrote the Ukrainian general after the conversation with his British counterpart.

Zaluzhny likely suggested the upcoming counter offensive of the Ukrainian Army in the Bakhmut region, which has been massively discussed in the Ukrainian and Western media in the recent days.

However, Syrsky, the commander of the AFU Khortytsya grouping, which is operating in the area, was not aware of the Gerasimov’s PR plans to “stabilize the situation”. On the same day,  Ukrainian media reported that Syrsky postponed Ukrainian offensive in Bakhmut for two weeks because of the predicted rains next week.

In his turn, Syrsky reportedly sent his best army special forces into the area in an attempt to prevent the almost inevitable loss of the western part of the city.

The ongoing public claims about any exact dates of the Ukrainian counter offensive in Bakhmut should not be taken seriously. Military commanders never declare their plans if they wish to achieve their goal.

Meanwhile, the British media also did not support the optimistic claims made by the Ukrainian officials. Sunday Times reported that “Ukraine is losing from 100 to 200 servicemen a day.” Such losses reportedly may force Ukraine to leave Bakhmut and retreat to the western cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

Satellite imagery of Bakhmut

The head of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin recently claimed that the AFU had prepared a large grouping of about 200,000 servicemen which were armed with NATO weapons and military equipment and will take part in the upcoming Ukrainian offensive. According to Yevgeny Prigozhinm, up to 80,000 Ukrainian servicemen are concentrated in the Bakhmut region, including in Konstantinovka, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Chasov Yar, Seversk and Druzhkivka. LINK

The head of the Wagner PMC does not exclude the attempts of the AFU to deblocade the city and called the Russian Defence Ministry to coordinate their efforts to not allow any counter offensive in the region.

Wounded Ukrainian servicemen in Bakhmut:

On the other hand, the International Committee of the Red Cross joined the media battle for Bakhmut. It has recently remembered that “there are still about 10 thousand civilians in Bakhmut”. This media campaign may be aimed to launch some negotiations and force Russian forces to stop the hostilities and secure a humanitarian corridor for the alleged withdrawal of civilians, like the Russian military did a lot of times during the battle for Mariupol. Such reports may be seen as a signal that the NATO and Ukrainian command are likely looking for the ways to keep the thousands of their soldiers out from the Bakhmut grinder. The humanitarian corridor could be a perfect pretext to restore military communication with garrison remaining in the city.

However, the Wagner PMC is unlikely to follow such provocations and stop the advance in the city. Wagner fighters continue evacuate all civilians they can from the war torn city under Ukrainian fire. LINK, LINK

The question is why thousands of civilians were not evacuated from the city before the outbreak of hostilities? Who is responsible for that? And who is taking them hostage today?

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Battle For Bakhmut: Despite Superior Ukrainian Grouping, Wagner Fighters Do Not Stop Advance
• Military Situation In Bakhmut On March 25, 2023 (Map Update)
• Wagner Fighters Took Control Of Zaliznyanskoe Near Bakhmut