Published: Less than 30 min ago
Ukraine has called in elite forces for the final battle for Bachmut.
At the same time, the think tank ISW states that the military seems to be planning a retreat from the city of hell.
Commander Volodymyr Nazarenko describes the situation as critical.
– There are many more Russians here than we have bullets to kill them with, he says.
Russia, and in particular the private army Wagner Group, has been trying to capture the mining town of Bachmut in eastern Ukraine since May.
Military experts have questioned the offensive because the city is not considered strategically crucial.
Bachmut’s importance is instead described as mainly symbolic, especially for Russia, which has suffered several defeats in the war since the fall.
Said to call in elite soldiers
On Saturday said Britain’s Ministry of Defence that the fighting is intensifying and that the Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure.
The Russian troops have advanced in the northern suburbs of Bachmut and are attacking the Ukrainian defensive positions from three directions.
According to the British report, Ukraine has now called in elite units for the final battle for the city.
In the last 24 hours, two important bridges have also been destroyed in Bachmut. One of them leads to the last remaining road the supply road to the west.
A commander tells CNN that it was destroyed by Russian tank artillery. However, the American think tank ISW writes in Saturday’s progress report that the Ukrainian military likely destroyed the bridges for strategic reasons.
The aim should be to make further offensives difficult for the Russian forces and enable a controlled retreat from Bachmut.
ISW cites Zelenskyi’s adviser Oleksandr Rodnyanskyi who last week opened up about a possible retreat, pointing out that Ukraine has already strengthened its positions to the west.
“Every hour is like hell”
Outwardly, Ukraine’s military points out that the city is still under their control.
– Every hour in Bachmut is like hell. In recent days, the front line has been stabilized thanks to our hard work, said National Guard Deputy Commander Volodymyr Nazarenko according to CNN.
He still describes the situation as “critical” and says that the fighting is going on around the clock, writes Reuters.
The Russian soldiers come in wave after wave.
– They don’t care about their losses when they try to take the city. The task of our forces in Bachmut is to inflict as many losses on the enemy as possible. Every meter of Ukrainian territory costs them hundreds of lives.
According to Nazarenko, both the Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are short of ammunition.
– There are many more Russians here than we have bullets to kill them with, he says.