The battle of Bakhmut has been the deadliest and longest in the Russo-Ukraine war. Recently, the Russian side made major advancements on the city while Ukraine shifted its attention elsewhere and started stockpiling resources for an offensive in the spring. Russian troops have been able to utilize their long-range artillery and air superiority to flank around the city and gain control over the north and south regions.
However, the Russian forces seem to be faltering. The Ukrainian forces on Friday morning reported around 1,020 Russian casualties just in the past 24 hours. The Russian military had launched attacks on the towns of Avdiivka, Lyman, Mariinka, and Shakhtarske while the main agenda was still Bakhmut.
Although the assault on Bahkmut form the Russian side has not halted, progress seems to have slowed down.
Ukrainian forces have been able to deter them all, including Mariinka, Avdiika and Shakhtarske. The Ukrainian military went on to say that it repelled over 80 attacks in the past day alone.
Top ground forces commander for Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the ground forces would soon begin a counter offensive against the Russian advancements in their winter campaign.
He went on to say that the Wagner group’s forces who have been at the forefront of the battle of Bakhmut have lost steam. Their forces have depleted, and they are struggling to recollect. Earlier this week the Wagner group reported that they aimed to recruit 30,000 more candidates to their units by the middle of May.
He continued to list the successful counteroffensives that Ukraine conducted to regain full control over Kyiv, Kharkiv and Balakliya. Ukraine has been mostly successful in their counteroffensive charges and have been able to repel Russian forces from stronger positions of control.
Ukraine urges EU to increase arms supply and sanctions on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the European Union has to increase the speed and intensity of its supply of arms and ammunition, and that additional sanctions must be put on Russia to further attempt crippling their economy. Russia has been able to survive economically through most of the sanctions that have been placed on it.
He appealed to the EU leaders in a video message that if ‘evil’ is given time to regroup and recollect, the war will be extended for a lot longer.
The EU Summit recently approved a plan to supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells over the next year, as well as discussing the possibility of additional sanctions on Russia. However, the President urged the EU leaders to do more, stating that Russia has been able to survive economically through most of the sanctions that have been placed on it thus far.
Britain had earlier said that it would supply Ukraine with depleted uranium containing Armour piercing ammunition. This would be an effective munition against the heavily armored Russian tanks. This was met with a stern response from the Russian president, mentioning that this would force Russia to respond as the munition has a nuclear aspect attached to it with the depleted uranium.
Slovakia on Thursday said that it has handed over the first four of the pledged MiG-29s to Ukraine. While the rest of 13 will be sent over in the subsequent weeks.
Russia invaded Ukraine with what it calls a ‘special military operation’ last year in February. Almost a fifth of Ukraine has since been annexed and more than 8000 civilians have lost their lives. In November 2022, the US estimated that over 200,000 military casualties had occurred including both the sides.
Russia has been subject to international pressure and sanctions to retreat its forces and end its aggression.
