Status: 02/28/2023 11:38 a.m
The pressure on the city of Bakhmut is increasing. According to Ukrainian information, Russian troops have almost surrounded their own soldiers – there is only one road left for a possible retreat. Further arms deliveries are urgently needed.
In the battle for the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the situation for the Ukrainian defenders is becoming increasingly difficult. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar said on Monday evening that Russia was pursuing “tactics of attrition and total destruction” in the region. The Ukrainians would have to defend themselves against a numerically superior enemy.
“The situation is getting more and more complicated towards Bakhmut,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address. He linked it to the request for more arms supplies and better anti-aircraft defense including combat aircraft.
“The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can serve to defend our positions, to fortify and defend them,” said Zelenskyy about the fighting in Bakhmut. He called the Ukrainian soldiers who have been defending the city for six months “true heroes”.
Battle of attrition for Bachmut
The defense of Bakhmut develops into a battle of attrition. According to Ukrainian information, the aim is to tie down as many Russian troops as possible and inflict casualties on them.
The commander of the Ukrainian land forces, Olexander Syrskyj, described the situation as “extremely tense”. “Regardless of noticeable losses, the enemy throws the best prepared units of the Wagner mercenaries into the attack,” said the colonel general. The Russian units tried to break through the defense lines to encircle the city.
The Russian troops not only attacked from the east, but also advanced north and south of the city, leaving only one clear road for the Ukrainians to retreat. Today only a few thousand people live in the city, which originally had 70,000 inhabitants.
The Kremlin is counting on wearing down the Ukrainians. “The enemy army is increasing the intensity of its offensive activities,” Deputy Minister Maljar wrote on Telegram. Despite heavy losses, the enemies are in the majority. The information could not be independently verified.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
General Staff confirms intensified Russian attacks
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed intensified Russian attacks on the frontline cities in Donbass. In addition to Bakhmut, the situation report from Monday evening also mentioned attacks on Kupjansk, Liman, Avdiivka and Wuhledar in the east of the country. The attacks near Avdiivka, which is close to Donetsk, and near Wuhledar were repelled.
The Russian Ministry of Defense had previously reported an increase in the offensive in the Donetsk area with artillery and airstrikes.
Dark green: Russian army advancing. Hatched: areas annexed by Russia.
Image: ISW/02/27/2023
$10 billion in US economic aid
The international partners continue to stand by Ukraine’s side. To support Ukraine’s economy, the US has announced an additional $10 billion. A first tranche of $1.2 billion – more than €1.1 billion – should be released immediately, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during her unannounced visit to Kiev.
Selenskyj thanked for the support of the USA since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. Foreign aid covered more than half of Ukraine’s state budget this year. The US also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s pledge of $400 million in aid during a visit by its foreign minister to Kiev.
Topic overview
war in Ukraine