The department believes that the destroyed bridge on the last road controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and bad weather conditions are forcing Ukrainian defenders to increasingly resort to uncharted roads.
Both the Ukrainian defense forces of Bakhmut and Russian troops continue to suffer losses. Over the past weekend, the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine probably stabilized the defensive example after the Russian offensive in the northern part of the city. About it reported in the British intelligence report for 7 March.
The Russians destroyed the bridge on the only road that remained under Ukrainian control. Mudslides and bad weather complicate the supply of Ukrainian troops and force them to resort more and more often to roads that have not yet been beaten.
Disagreements between PMC “Wagner” and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Public disputes between PMC Wagner and the Russian Ministry of Defense over the supply of ammunition indicate difficulties in replenishing the occupying forces with the personnel and ammunition necessary to continue the current pace of the advance of Russian forces.
Earlier, Focus reported that “the enemy is forming reserves,” and the Rada warned of a threat from the Zaporozhye direction. People’s Deputy and SBU Colonel Roman Kostenko called Zaporozhye and Donetsk two strategic directions for both Russian and Ukrainian troops. The plans of the command of the RF Armed Forces include not only defense in the south, but also an offensive.
The OP named two main goals for the defense of Bakhmut. Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, noted that even with the retreat of Ukrainian forces to more fortified positions, the defense of Bakhmut will be considered “a great strategic success.”
Western experts, in turn, named the reasons why Putin’s plans for the winter failed. Retired US Army Major John Spencer pointed to the “advantages of the terrain”: the winter in Ukraine was unexpectedly warm for the Russians.
