The Institute for War Studies (ISW) reports that Russian troops may be feeling “tired” after a series of victories in Kiev as the counteroffensive in southeastern Ukraine advances towards Bakhmut.
Ukraine has made some significant gains near Bakhmut over the past week, including recapturing the villages of Klishchiivka and Andriivka south of the city. More than three months ago, Kiev launched a counteroffensive to retake Russian-held territory, and although the campaign is progressing more slowly than expected, there are signs that Ukraine is beginning to drain Russian power on the front lines.
In its latest assessment of the war in Ukraine, ISW noted that the fighting in Krischivka and Andrivka may have made Russia “war-weary” in the region, and that “Ukraine has occupied two settlements that defend important Russian strongholds.” [ground line of communication] Supporting Bakhmut suggests that these forces may have difficulty replenishing their fighting capacity and defending against any further Ukrainian offensive activity south of Bakhmut. “
Viktor Fridshon/Ukraine Global Photo Agency (Getty)
“Ukraine liberated two villages that Russian forces fought hard to capture, which may correspond to a severe degradation of Russian forces defending the villages,” ISW said.
Ukrainian military spokesman Ilya Yevlash claimed on Sunday that Kiev’s liberation of Krischivka would allow Ukraine to take control of Russia’s ground lines of communication that are currently feeding Russian troops around the Bakhmut region supply. ISW said on Monday it could not independently verify the strength of Russia’s defenses around the city, “although Russian forces may not be reinforcing their defenses near Bakhmut to the same extent as in southern Ukraine.”
However, the ISW added that there were no immediate signs that Ukraine’s success “would herald a higher speed for Ukraine’s advance south of Bakhmut,” noting that Russia’s efforts to the west of T0513, a highway that cuts through Bakhmut, The defensive positions may “likely continue to pose a challenge to Ukrainian forces in the area.”
Russia has lost more than 3,180 troops in the past week, Ukraine’s Armed Forces General Staff reported on Monday, bringing the total number of troops in Moscow since the war began in February 2022 to about 272,940. Weekly newspaper However, Russia has not been able to independently verify the report, and it does not often comment on its own casualty estimates.
U.S. officials estimated last month that casualties on both sides of the war were approaching 500,000, the Associated Press reported. New York Times. At the time, Russian military casualties were believed to be close to 300,000, but officials noted that casualty figures were difficult to estimate.
Weekly newspaper CNN reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry via email Monday evening for comment.
