While the exact fate of the embattled Ukrainian city of Bachmut is still unknown, it appears that the city fell into Russian hands after all. The Washington Post reports it. The question, however, is what the Russians will do now: push towards the industrial cities of Kramatorsk and Slovjansk, or dig in and wait for the Ukrainian offensive.
While Bachmoet’s fall is seen by many as the fall of a resistance stronghold, defense specialist Patrick Bolder of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague believes the fall should be seen as a gain for Ukraine. “It cost the Russians a lot of time,” he says. “And in the time Ukraine has defended the city, it has also been able to rebuild its military.”
“Ukraine was able to work on rebuilding its armed forces”
In addition to time, according to Bolder, it also cost the Russians many men and equipment, which therefore can no longer be used if Ukraine launches a counter-offensive. “And he provided proof that the Russian winter offensive – as we thought we saw it – failed,” he continues.
Support
Bolder also thinks that the fierce and bloody battle for Bachmut – one of the fiercest battles of the entire Ukrainian war – strengthened Western support. He allegedly allowed Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky to visit the G7 and Arab leaders.
Also, according to Bolder, it must be taken into account that the Russians put their reserves in Bachmoet, and they got them from somewhere. “This has weakened the Russian military and Ukraine may have contributed to a dispute between Wagner’s boss Prigozhin and Russian Defense Minister Shoygu.”
Berlin
Either way, Russia sees Bachmut’s alleged capture as a victory and, according to journalist and founder Laura Starink van Raam, celebrates it absurdly. “On state television, it’s basically portrayed as the taking of Berlin in 1945,” she says. “Although Zelensky calls it a Pyrrhic victory, nothing of Bachmut is left standing.”
“Van Bachmoet is no longer standing”
According to Starink, this applies to the whole of Donbass. “The destruction the Russians are causing is so gigantic that you wonder what else they can do with that area,” he says. “They’ll have to rebuild everything themselves.”
Prigozin
Also, according to Starink, it’s actually not a Russian victory, but a victory for Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenary army. “Of course he claims victory,” continues Starink. According to Prigozhin, the Russian military cannot dent a packet of butter. But neither can he, because it took months to conquer this small piece of land.”
And it remains to be seen how long the remains of the city of Bachmoet will remain in Russian hands. According to Starink, there are Ukrainians who say that another attempt is being made to encircle the city, “and to cut Prigozhin’s men to pieces,” he concludes. “And many of them are already dead.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
