Ivan Sichen, an expert of the Independent Analytical Center for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel”, for Gazeta.ua
The Russians are throwing all available forces to capture Bakhmut. However, they manage to move slowly. This city is an important political goal for Moscow. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will try to keep Bakhmut. This was stated in a comment for Gazeta.ua by military analyst Ivan Sichen.
“If possible, we will keep Bakhmut. Russia is trying to capture it because the city is of great political importance to it. But the fighting is going on, and the Russians are advancing very slowly. Although they throw all possible forces. Our troops sometimes go on counteroffensives. Somewhere they are trying to push the Russians. And they have less strength and weapons, because there is a real meat grinder for their weapons and people”, says Sichen.
The Russians are already carrying out offensive actions not even by battalion-tactical groups, but by five or six people, the analyst adds.
“We will not surrender Bakhmut. Because the Russians do not have the strength to push us. In Bakhmut, fighting is still taking place in the city center, and the Ukrainian Defense Forces control 35 % to 40 % of its territory. In other areas, the enemy has practically not succeeded, although he sends additional troops there. However, the enemy no longer has forces for further development of the offensive”, says Sichen.
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Russian troops at the cost of heavy losses are conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. Yesterday, more than 60 attacks were repelled in these sectors of the front. The fiercest battles are fought for the city of Bakhmut. During the day on April 20, Ukrainian aviation inflicted six strikes on places of concentration of the enemy, and units of missile troops and artillery hit five enemy command points. |
Author: Anastasiia Prokaieva
Source: Gazeta.ua
The article is available in Russian
