On Monday, March 13, Ukrainian and Russian forces said to clash “tough fight” About the Bakhmut center in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow has been trying to control since the summer at the cost of heavy losses.
This city has become a symbol of Ukraine’s fierce resistance to the Kremlin, and Kiev hopes to exhaust the enemy forces there to be in a position to launch a massive counterattack.
sequel after announcement
Assault detachments [du groupe paramilitaire russe] Wagner’s attack from several directions is trying to break through the defense of our forces and advance towards the central quarters.said in the morning the commander of the ukrainian ground forces oleksandr syrsky, citing the press center of the army.
In Bakhmut, “occupy positions at any cost.”
“The closer to the city center, the more difficult it is to fight, the more artillery.”He was echoed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Wagner whose men are in the front line in the battles of Bakhmut.
General Sirsky confirmed that the Ukrainian forces “inflict heavy losses to the enemy” In this battle, the longest and bloodiest since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. With artillery fire and tanks […] All attempts to take the city were repulsed.he argued.
Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted that his forces were facing fierce resistance. “The situation in Bakhmut is very difficult and difficult. The enemy is fighting in every arena.”He said on a social networking site. “Ukrainians throw endless reserves [au combat] »he added.
sequel after announcement
It may fall quietly “in the coming days.”
Bakhmut, which had a population of 70,000 before the invasion, has been the focus of fighting on the eastern front in Ukraine for months. If this largely bomb-ravaged city has become one of the symbols of Ukraine’s fierce resistance to the invasion, its strategic importance is disputed by experts.
In this context, some in Ukraine are questioning the need for Kiev to continue fighting for this city, whose defense also means heavy losses for the Ukrainian army. And they risk becoming even heavier if Russian forces manage to encircle Bakhmet when they have already succeeded in cutting off several important routes for supplying Ukrainian soldiers.
The war in Ukraine: “If the Russians capture Bakhmut, they want to go further,” Zelensky confirms
It may fall flat ” In the coming days “NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned last week.
For the Ukrainian leadership, it is a matter of holding out as long as possible, so that Russia there uses the maximum number of men, weapons and ammunition and finds itself vulnerable when Ukraine launches its counterattack. Expected soon. Time must be gained to accumulate reserves and launch a counterattack.Gen. Cirsky said on Saturday.
sequel after announcement
Ukraine intends to attack the Russian army in the coming weeks or months to recapture the occupied territories, after initial successes in 2022 in the south, north and east. For this, reliance is placed on the delivery of Western weapons, in particular tanks and artillery ammunition with a range of more than 100 km. Europeans and Americans have been promised, but their delivery is slow and difficult.
High arms imports
Internationally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine anyway has caused an increase in arms imports to Europe, which will nearly double in 2022, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).
Even then, Ukraine, a minuscule importer, was suddenly the world’s third destination, concentrating 31% of Europe’s arms imports and 8% of global trade, according to Sipri.
Kiev’s imports, including Western donations intended to help it fend off the Russians, have multiplied by more than 60% in 2022, according to the institute.
sequel after announcement
Moscow Journal: “I am writing this text without any hope for the future”
With a 93% increase over one year, European imports also increased due to increased military spending by several European countries such as Poland and Norway, and things should accelerate further, according to this annual report.
For its part, the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, in a report, denounced the consequences “severe” Invasion of orphans and foster children in Ukraine. Thousands of them have been transferred to Russian institutions or families. The return of children unlawfully captured by Russian forces should be an international priority.The NGO said while urging Kiev to reform “Urgently” Its system to take care of these kids.
