Posted on 12/12/2022 2:04:22 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Russian forces have been attempting to seize Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donetsk region for at least seven months. But in recent weeks, the battle in and around the city has become one of the fiercest of the nine-month war in Ukraine.
Bakhmut, which sits above a vast salt mine and is famed for its Soviet-era winery, has been badly damaged — and in parts totally destroyed — by constant shelling.
Russia’s determination to take Bakhmut has puzzled many observers, who question Moscow’s huge commitment of resources to the fight despite the city’s relative lack of strategic significance.
The Moscow Times considers why the Kremlin might be so keen to capture the city.
What appeal does Bakhmut hold for the Russian Armed Forces? Seizing Bakhmut would give Russia a small, strategic foothold to launch a wider offensive against the Ukrainian-held cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk to the north.
Bakhmut also sits on a crucial highway that runs diagonally through Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
But Russia’s focus on the city has nonetheless baffled analysts, who point out that the battle to take Bakhmut has cost Moscow dearly in both men and equipment.
(Excerpt) Read more at themoscowtimes.com ...
Why is da Ukraine so determined to hold it?
Despite massive casualties?
If the Russians wanted to capture or take it, they already would have.
The better question is why ZelesnkyyIdiot and Ukraine is fighting so desperately to hold it at horrendous losses to manpower and equipment they can ill afford to be losing?
Now that UAF are about to lose Bakhmut (defended by 30,000 troops), the narrative turns to making it “insignificant”.
Typical Ministry of Truth balderdash.
It appears to me, from what they’ve said, they intend to “demilitarize” and grind down (kill and destroy) Ukrainian forces and they are being fed to them on a conveyor belt in Bakhmut.
Ukraine Bakhmut Defences Crumble, Russia Advances Across Donbass, Serbia Readies for War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEmcedPG0Tc
see “Popasnaya”.
Is Bakhmut in the Russian annexed area? That might be why. Also it opens the road for them to liberate Slavyansk.
“Now that UAF are about to lose Bakhmut (defended by 30,000 troops), the narrative turns to making it “insignificant”.”
Bingo, Sir!
“Pro-Ukraine accounts are declaring that Artemovsk/Bakhmut is unimportant, signaling that defeat is imminent. Artemovsk is actually key, its fall will begin the unraveling of defenses in the whole region. That is why the AFU have endured atrocious losses holding it.”
https://twitter.com/CheburekiMan/status/1602012995449937920
They’re besieging it, allowing the Ukrainians to expend a ridiculous amount of resources (a battalion a day) holding onto it. The question is why is the Zelensky regime so desperate to keep it? Because once it goes they will have no chance at retaking the Donbas.
BTW, the Moscow Times is a genuine opposition newspaper. Is the Russian press freer than the American press?
Also, the Special Military Operation is designed to kil l the Uke military, and denazify. So any place you can get Ukraine to invest in serves the purpose of killing Uke military in large numbers. That’s probably also a reason.
“The Russian Army is long but not strong. We will eat them slowly like a salami. Slice by slice.”
That’s been the Ukrainian strategy from day one, and Bakhmut has been one of their most effective salami slicing stations for months now.
Because it's their home.
It's a damned shame, Russia and Ukraine could have had a mutually beneficial and fruitful fraternal relationship, and patched up history's wounds, like France and Germany, if not for that asshole, Putin. Of course, Biden practically invited him to invade.
That dang Jim Hoft, he so romantical.
When in the history of war has attacking a city cost fewer casualties that holding it?
This war is much clearer if you know anything about military history and tactics.
“Because it’s their home.”
Spare us the assinine rhetoric.
This is a war/conflict so drop your brain to the level of thinking strategically and tactically instead of just vomiting rhetoric, yeah?
If you can’t do that, go back to playing RISK.....
That’s been the Ukrainian strategy from day one, and Bakhmut has been one of their most effective salami slicing stations for months now.
————
With media ( non western ) reports of 400- 600 Ukies being torn apart by Vlads artillery, why are they insistent on losing so many men? Not very effective unless the correct answer is once Bakmut falls, the Ukies narrative of “:winning” falls apart.
well you’re a Russian shill, so of course you have no respect for other countries
Just as you are a pro-Ukrainian Nazi supporter and sympathizer, so touché there, resident of Nazi Freeland and Justin Castro Canuckistan.
It’s funny reading this thread and seeing 90% of the posts to be almost copy and pastes from Russian propaganda trolls.
It’s funny to me that the self declared high IQ free thinkers have zero original thoughts and just repeat the Russian narrative of the day, which I guarantee will be a different narrative from the one next week.
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