Ukrainians squeeze Russians near Bakhmut

The defense forces keep the entrances and exits from the city under fire control.

Defense forces of Ukraine continue to conduct offensive actions north and south of the city of Bakhmut, the capture of which is called the only meager victory of the Russians this year. But Kyiv's goal is not to storm the city, writes The Times journalist Richard Spencer, who spoke with Ukrainian soldiers south of Bakhmut, informs UAINFO.org with reference to UNIAN.

In December, Ukrainian forces defended Klishchiivka, south of Bakhmut, from an enemy who was more desperate than experienced.

"They attacked during the day, because they didn't have night vision devices. They came in waves, ten people at a time, with an interval of half an hour. We would just mow them down," says "Aztek", a company commander of the 5th separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Today, Klishchiivka is again in the zone of active hostilities. "Aztec" fighters are actively advancing on Klishchiivka, the return of which would allow Ukrainian forces to gain fire control over the entire Bakhmut. Last week, the unit advanced three kilometers in three days. The system of trenches, dug here during the battles of 2014, came in handy for the fighters.

Spencer states that the nature of this recurring battle has changed: now no one expects the Ukrainian side to try to storm Bakhmut itself.

"Instead, they will crush what's left of it with their artillery from the west until the Russians leave," the journalist suggests.

"Aztek" emphasizes that "there is no point in dying for Bakhmut."

"We will lose too many people. And why? Bakhmut is already destroyed," he says.

Already now, the Russian artillery in this area began to fade away - the strikes did not stop, but they became fewer.

"Previously, we used two to three thousand shells a day, so you can determine the intensity. A week ago there was a balance - one "exit", one "in". Now the other side is silent," said senior lieutenant Oleksandr, an officer of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade, whose battery of howitzers stands approximately 7 kilometers from Bakhmut.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 16/07/2023