To divide
Ukraine wants to move forward. Apparently, the offensive against Russia in Bakhmut was successful. Zelenskyy speaks of a milestone.
Bakhmut – advance in the south, new front line in the north: Ukraine is persistently advancing its counter-offensive in the war against Russia. Apparently, Kiev forces around Bakhmut inflicted heavy casualties on the invading forces and fired on several villages at the same time. A Kremlin-appointed official confirmed this in a video posted on Telegram.
“Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out a series of actions in the direction of Lyman and conducted combat reconnaissance in several directions at once,” the Kyiv Independent quoted regional official loyal to Russia Denis Pushilin as saying on Friday ( September 22). The situation remains tense around Bakhmut, he said, adding: “The city itself is under chaotic shelling.”
Current front line: Ukraine is pushing back Russian troops near Bakhmut
According to the report, Ukrainian forces assembled assault battalions north of Bakhmut and attacked several villages. It was initially unclear whether the front line had already been moved as a result. Although Russia claimed to have repelled the attacks, the Ukrainian government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy already indicated that the counteroffensive would soon be successful.
To a new front line: meter by meter, Ukrainian troops advance against Russia, near Bakhmut. © Libkos/ap/dpa
“We will free Bakhmut from the occupiers,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with US broadcaster CNN and announced the recapture of Bakhmut and two other cities. “I think we will liberate two more cities from the occupiers.” But for tactical reasons he will not give any details. “We have a plan; a very, very comprehensive plan.”
Counteroffensive in the Ukrainian War: Videos show fighting on the Bakhmut front
According to the US Institute for War Studies (ISW), the offensive by Ukrainian troops was particularly significant in the vicinity of Odradivka (9 kilometers south of Bakhmut), Andriyivka (10 kilometers southwest of Bakhmut) and Kurdjumivka (12 kilometers southwest of Bakhmut). ) Progress achieved. Some photos and video recordings that Ukrainian soldiers took with a helmet camera during their advance on this section of the front were circulating online, some of which were published by the AP news agency.
Russian casualties: Battle of Bakhmut is one of the bloodiest battles in the war of aggression
Bakhmut was captured by Russian forces in the Ukraine war in May this year after months of brutal fighting. The conquest of the city, in which the Wagner group of the now deceased mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was particularly involved, was Russia’s most expensive victory to date in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The defenders resisted the attacks of the Kremlin troops for a long time – probably in order to inflict maximum losses on them. Releasing Bakhmut would be a symbolic defeat for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the USA, one of Kiev’s most important allies, Bakhmut’s support and the long battle for reconquest were for a long time viewed with skepticism. Taking into account the high losses and rather low strategic value, it is more likely that US military advisors will insist on focusing their capabilities on an attempt to advance in the southern sector of the front, where there have been major successes recently. However, the Pentagon recently admitted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive was gradually taking effect in many places.
Tanks, drones, air defense: weapons for Ukraine
See series of photos
For a new front line: US assembles weapons package – Zelenskyy travels to Canada
Taking current developments into account, the US has once again adjusted its arms aid to Ukraine. Instead of long-range missiles, US President Joe Biden’s government now mainly wants to provide tanks and mine-clearing vehicles so that Kiev’s troops can further break through Russian lines and decisively change the course of the front. Zelensky agreed to this with US representatives during his visit to Washington. On Friday afternoon, he flew to Canada, where new weapons packages would also be processed. (jkf)