OUR siege of Bahamut this is one of the longest and bloodiest battles recorded on Ukrainian lands since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Ten months after the start of the siege The Ukrainian military continues to defend a rubble-strewn area in the western part of the city, just 20 city blocks across.taking a constant Russian knock.
Divided in this ever-shrinking corner, the Ukrainian military is determined not to back down and to withstand enemy strikes, even as allies are now “quietly” questioning this strategy. Indeed, the losses are significant, and the city has become a “panorama” of destroyed buildings and ruins.
According to leaked US intelligence documents, until six weeks ago, the Ukrainian bases in Bakhmut were weakening, and the city was in danger of being surrounded. USA. This week’s autopsy in the war zone, as well as conversations with soldiers and commanders, show that Ukraine has lost a significant amount of territory, although a section of the road network remains open, allowing resupply and evacuation of the wounded.
According to the Kyiv side, perseverance, despite the harsh conditions, is part of a strategy aimed at “flooding” the Russian army, since Ukraine re-equipping and training his own army for his forthcoming counterattack.
“It’s really an uphill battleColonel Pavlos Palisa, commander of the 93rd Brigade, a Ukrainian unit stretching along most of the front line inside Bakhmut, emphasizes. He describes the situation, speaking to the New York Times from a hideout, while soldiers with weapons moved in the area .
“We are helping our other units buy time, get ammunition and weapons, and prepare for a counterattack,” he notes.
He points out that troops in and around the city also sometimes lack ammunition, explaining that the problem is rooted in Ukraine’s general lack of military supplies.
“As a commander, it pains me to see how we are paying with our lives for the lack of ammunition,” he says, adding that “the allies are slow to deliver military assistance,” although, according to him, the United States and other countries are trying to conclude agreements that open the way for military reinforcements. “Sorry, but we need more speed from our allies,” he stresses.
Ukrainian soldiers who told the NYT spoke of fighting in abandoned buildings, bases and trenches and spoke of round-the-clock shelling. Often they are close enough to hear Russians speaking.
In a recent incident described by Colonel Palisa, the Russians used a tank to punch a hole in the wall of a Ukrainian-controlled apartment building. Russian soldiers then crawled through this hole to fight even inside the training ground. “One part of the building was occupied by the enemy, the other part came under our control,” the colonel said of the incident.
The Ukrainians decided to mine the building with explosives, Colonel Palisa added.
Both sides claim that the Battle of Bahamut, which has a tragic significance tens of thousands of victims in 10 monthsis vital to weakening the enemy.
OUR Russia conducted raids in and around Bahamut with the support of paratroopers and special forces known as special forces. On the Ukrainian side, the 93rd brigade had been defending most of the city front since January, along with troops from the national guard and border guards.
The fact that the supply route remains relatively passable means that Moscow’s attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops has failed, at least for now, forcing the Russian military to launch bloody attacks on the city’s streets. Losses are growing every day.
Ukrainian attacks are planned in the underground bunker of the Ukrainian army. On one screen, Colonel Palisa, describing a New York Times report, watches drone footage of the Russians running into the building, apparently planning a new attack from there. He then gives the order to attack the target.
Colonel Palisa, 38, interrupted his graduate studies when Russia invaded Ukraine last year. He returned to the front to fight.
One of the lessons that he could not attend, according to him, is dedicated to the peculiarities of the “urban battle”. An irony, considering his role today. “I do my best,” he adds. “We’re still here in Bahamut.”
Source: New York Times.
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Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.