Zhdanov: Russians Trapped At Front Line

The Kremlin has driven its generals into a dead end.

Bakhmut is still one of the hottest sectors on the front. Fierce battles for Kleshchiivka continue. The Russians are constantly transferring reserves. Why is this area so important for the occupiers? What kind of forces are engaged there and whether it is worth storming Bakhmut by the Armed Forces of Ukraine? Military expert Oleh Zhdanov answered these questionsApostrophe TV:

– The Russians are constantly transferring reserves to Kleshchievka. There is a real meat grinder and the Russians grind their units there. They have already begun to pull regiments there from the Lugansk region, from the Kupyansko-Lyman operational direction.

That’s Prigozhin’s legacy. He created a political and ideological idol that Bakhmut is a huge victory won by the Russian occupation army in Ukraine and they must not surrender the city, therefore they are doing their best to keep the city, in fact, along the Andriivka-Kleshchiivka-Kurdyumivka line. The enemy understands that if we break through the front on any part of this line, then we can actually move further and cut off this entire ledge, together with Bakhmut and Soledar.

Politically, it will be an insane defeat for the Kremlin. Even more than the sinking of the cruiser Moskva. They managed to hide it from society to some extent, but Bakhmut is so publicized that it will not be possible to hide it. Therefore, they make huge sacrifices and losses in order not to retreat. And as long as the Russians have the opportunity, they will throw people into this ‘meat grinder’ in order to try to hold this position.

Is it possible that there will be fights on the streets of Bakhmut? It is more difficult to fight in any city than in open areas. Because there are so many places to hide. The enemy can hide under the ruins and in voids.

We have the following situation in Bakhmut today: the enemy withdrew troops from the city two weeks ago and deployed several so-called territorial regiments there. They are mobilized soldiers. That is, in fact, the command of the Russian army filled the city with not the most combat-ready units. However, it makes no sense for us to storm the city and clean it up. You need to go there after cordoning off the city and offering to surrender to the enemy. If a decision is made to storm Bakhmut, it will be very difficult.