Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully counterattack and regain positions southwest of Bakhmut – ISW
Ukrainian forces have regained their positions around Bakhmut, Donetsk region, but russian forces are making some progress in the city itself.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report reads this.
American analysts noted that russian troops continued their assault on the fortress city of Bakhmut and conducted futile offensives to the northwest of the town in the Orihovo-Vasylivka area.
"Ukrainian troops have regained positions around Bakhmut, and Ukrainian officials continue to emphasize the importance of continuing the defense of Ukraine in this area on March 31," the Institute for the Study of War emphasizes.
According to geolocation data, Ukrainian soldiers counterattacked to the southwest of Bakhmut and regained lost positions south of Ivanivske, located about 7 km southwest of the city.
Meanwhile, ISW notes that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine calls the Bakhmut assault "the most expensive operation."
As Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar emphasized, "the time, weapons, equipment, and huge losses spent by the enemy on the capture of Bakhmut does not justify itself from the point of view of military expediency."
In addition, the ground forces commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, also stated that the occupying units in some regions of Bakhmut are visibly nervous. They have less and less time and human resources.
Despite the successful counterattack of Ukrainian forces, the occupiers still achieved certain results in Bakhmut itself.
Geolocation data indicate that the "Wagner" Private Military Company's flag appeared on a building in the center of Bakhmut. It is located a few blocks from the city administration building.
Private Military Company's units attacked northern and southern Bakhmut and unsuccessfully tried to advance westward towards Khromove.
At the same time, one russian military commander admitted that "Wagner" fighters could not make significant progress in Bakhmut. And all attacks in and around the city were useless.
The leader of "Wagner" PMC, Evgeny Prigozhin, confirmed that there are no signs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's withdrawal from Bakhmut. He called on regular Russian forces around the city to continue holding the flanks and supporting operations there.
For reference:
The Battle of Bakhmut is an ongoing series of military actions between Ukraine's armed forces and the russian Armed Forces near Bakhmut. This assault started on 1 August 2022, after russians moved from Popasna and followed a Ukrainian retreat from that area. This offensive was carried out by russian mercenaries from "Wagner" Private Military Company, alongside regular russian troops and the separatists from the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.
The "Wagner" Private Military Company is a privately funded russian military unit of mercenaries backed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has connections to vladimir putin.
According to DW, Yevgeny Prigozhin declared on March 29 that his troops and their equipment had been "badly damaged" in the extended campaign to take control of Bakhmut, a small but significant city in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Colonel Yevhen Mezhevikin, the Adam Tactical Group commander, believes that the battle for Bakhmut may be a turning point in the war and that Ukraine can keep control of the city and drive the russian forces away.
