Russia's strategy of taking Bakhmut so their offensive this spring can have a real springboard is being disrupted by the casualties they are experiencing around that attempted capture of Bakhmut. In trying to take Bakhmut the Russians are gambling that they won't run out of troops in the attempt. But so far they are taking massive casualties to their troops and equipment. Every day there appears to be close to a 1000 deaths, not including injuries, to their troops. Already Russia has lost nearly 160,000 troops due to the invasion of Ukraine so now the question is does Russia have enough manpower to even attempt an offensive this spring.
If Russia can quickly take Bakhmut then the likelihood of them advancing an offensive this spring becomes a real possibility, Yet if they don't take Bakhmut quickly or at all then the end of the Russian occupation of Ukraine becomes a real possibility. You can see why Russia needs to take Bakhmut soon or the invasion and occupation of Ukraine will not be able to be sustained. Most of the elite Russian troops and elite wagner support troops have been eliminated already so trying to fight on with less experienced troops against a confident and experienced fighting military like Ukraine will not go well for Russia.
For their part Ukraine has decided that holding Bakhmut is their best battleplan. Keeping Russian forces pinned down outside the town is working and although there is a lot of street fighting within the east of the town the rest is still a Ukrainian stronghold. By killing off the Russian troops in the kamikaze like attacks they attempt, Ukraine is bleeding out the Russian forces needed for it's coming offensive. So while the Russians are not taking Bakhmut they are also dwindling in preparedness for the now in doubt spring offensive. The strategy to stay and hold Bakhmut is looking to be a very calculated smart one for Ukraine and very well could be the turning point toward the end of the Russian occupation of Ukraine.
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