The Ukrainian military is advancing in some areas of the front in the direction of Bakhmut, while the Russians are losing equipment and soldiers, the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, said on Saturday, as quoted by EFE.

Colonel-General Oleksandr SirskyiPhoto: Roman Chop / AP / Profimedia

“The defense in the direction of Bakhmut continues. Our troops are advancing on certain areas of the front, and the enemy is losing equipment and people,” Sirskyi wrote in a Telegram message, Ukrinform reported, citing Agerpres.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Friday that Ukrainian armed forces captured territory northwest of Bakhmut during counterattacks located in the area between Bohdanivka and Bergivka, as can be seen in recordings showing the withdrawal of Russian troops under fire from Ukraine. artillery on the southern shore of the Bergiv reservoir.

“These images visually confirm the statements of several Russian military bloggers that Ukrainian forces have taken up positions northwest of Bakhmut, in the area between Bohdanivka and Bergivka,” the message reads.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi is considered the most feared Ukrainian commander after his successes during the war.

The general led the defense of Kyiv in the first months of the war and led the Ukrainian offensive from Kharkiv.

He listed the reasons why Bakhmut is important for the defense of Eastern Ukraine:

  • the city is an important defense node, the preservation of which ensures the stability of the defense of the group of troops in the area as a whole;
  • Bakhmut is a well-situated natural fortress surrounded by rivers and perched on hills that aid the defenders;
  • the defense of the city is also helped by high-rise buildings and developed infrastructure on the left bank of the Bakhmutova River, where Ukrainian troops are currently stationed;
  • the battle for the capture of the city involves a special type of combat that requires special skills and creates difficulties for the Russian troops who attack from the forest-steppe area.

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