Extended the Russian army: Bakhmut battles forced the Armed Forces to change their strategy - NYT
About it in his article about the development of the situation on the front line in Donetsk region writes the newspaper The New York Times. Journalists remind that not so long ago President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that he was not sure whether the struggle for two destroyed cities - Severodonetsk and Lisichansk - the lives of almost 100 Ukrainian soldiers per day. "But this time there is no doubt," the newspaper emphasizes.
A new study shows that the deadly city battles last summer were not as meaningless as it could seem. Senior Researcher at the Eurasian Program of FPRI Rob Lee and the Director of the Russian Study in CNA Michael Kafman studied the course of war in Ukraine in 2022 and concluded that the successes of the Armed Forces in Kherson and Kharkiv region are the result of an earlier grueling battle for the Donbas, which has become a Russian army. .
Analysts conclude that the fighting for exhaustion has been justified. However, according to scientists, whether Bakhmut plays a similar role before the expected spring offensive of Ukraine depends on many variables, in particular on how many soldiers Russia will be able to exhibit after the autumn wave of mobilization.
If Moscow is not able to teach, lead and integrate mobilized soldiers properly, Ukraine will be able to achieve another breakthrough on the front when the weather and land conditions will improve. The defense of virtually destroyed through constant shelling of Bakhmut has become a symbol of national struggle against the invaders for the country, NYT journalists say. They emphasize that the tactical value of the city in Donetsk region is doubtful.
At the same time, the lasting battle for Bakhmut is of strategic importance for both parties. Currently, a lat situation in Bakhmut is forcing the Armed Forces to change its usual strategy. Previously, the military command tried to avoid direct clashes, trying to maneuver and use Western weapons effectively, now the picture on the front is somewhat different. The retired Ukrainian colonel Sergey Grabsky said that the battles in Bakhmut and on its surroundings are "a completely different" war.
According to him, the Armed Forces continue to defend the settlement partially because the loss of Russians is extremely important for Ukraine. For this purpose, the military command adapts to the Russian masses of living force, which the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation throws in frontal attacks. We will remind, on January 10 the SCO fighters showed unique footage of storm of the fortress of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation under Bakhmut.