Ukraine Continues Bakhmut Advance To Prevent Further Defensive Build-Up

The Ukrainians may be transferring some troops from Bakhmut to build on their Robotyne-Tokmak-Melitopol advance success, but are also continue offensive operations around Bakhmut so the Russians are not given the opportunity to build defenses in depth as they have done in the southern areas of Ukraine. 

These assaults are intended to keep the Russians offguard and to prevent both the transfer of Russian troops to the south as well as thwart any effort to reinforce defensive lines in the area. JL

Maria Kostenko reports in CNN:

Ukrainian officials said its military is still on the offensive in the Bakhmut direction, and continues to advance. Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said that “one of the most important tasks in the Bakhmut sector is to keep up the momentum of advance in order to prevent the enemy from taking measures to create its own defense system. The kind of efforts the enemy has already made, for example, in the Zaporizhzhia sector.”

A Ukrainian commander in the Bakhmut area has said it is critical to prevent the Russians from establishing proper defenses in the area.

Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said on his Telegram channel that “one of the most important tasks in the Bakhmut sector is to keep up the momentum of advance in order to prevent the enemy from taking measures to create its own defense system. The kind of efforts the enemy has already made, for example, in the Zaporizhzhia sector,” where Ukrainian forces are struggling to break down layers of Russian fortifications and minefields.

“Naturally, there are mines in our sector, and we hit them almost every time during assault operations. There are also fortifications that they have time to construct,” Zhorin said. “However, we still do not allow them to build a strong system here, as we constantly either knock them out of their positions or inflict damage, preventing them from taking the required actions.”

“It will be a significant problem if we provide the enemy with time and opportunity to dig in and plant mines,” he added.

Ukrainian forces have made slight progress to the south and north-west of Bakhmut in recent weeks, but are yet to threaten Russian supply lines into the ruined city. 

More on Bakhmut: On Sunday, Ukrainian officials said its military is still on the offensive in the Bakhmut direction, and continues to advance "meter by meter," Illya Yevlash, head of the press service of the Eastern Military Grouping said. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian positions 590 times, using multiple rocket launchers and cannon artillery of various calibers, he said. 

A total of 14 combat engagements took place on Saturday, Yevlash said. "The enemy is resorting to counterattacks, trying in vain to regain lost ground."

"Enemy tactics remain virtually unchanged" in the Bakhmut area, he said. "First come the assault units, consisting of convicts who try to storm the positions, sometimes even without the cover of heavy equipment; followed by regular army soldiers, who are taken better care of by the Russian army."