Russia Makes Gains North Of Bakhmut, Ukraine – Russian military and Wagner Group forces have reportedly made tactical advances into a town north of Bakhmut recently, according to an update from the British Ministry of Defence.
British intelligence suggests that Russian forces made advances into the town of Soledar to the north of Bakhmut in the last four days, suggesting that Russia could be making progress towards its ambitions of taking control of Bakhmut, even in the face of weapons and ammunition shortages.
“In the last four days, Russian and Wagner forces have made tactical advances into the small Donbas town of Soledar and are likely in control of most of the settlement,” the update reads.
Soledar is a town located 10km to the north of Bakhmut, and British defense officials believe that the capture of the city “likely continues to be Russia’s main immediate operational objective.”
Is Russia Close to a Breakthrough?
On Monday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked soldiers who were pushing back against Russians in the region and acknowledged how difficult the battle for Bakhmut has become.
“It is extremely difficult, there are almost no walls left,” the president said. “Due to the resilience of our warriors there, in Soledar, we have gained additional time and additional power for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy reiterated previous claims that fighting in the Donetsk Oblast city had left everything “completely destroyed,” adding that there is “almost no life left.”
“The whole land near Soledar is covered with corpses of the occupiers and scars from the strikes,” Zelenskyy continued.
The message from the Ukrainian president, while optimistic and thankful, represents the severity of Russian gains in the region in recent days.
Despite warnings from Wagner officials that the Russian government simply isn’t providing the weapons, vehicles, and equipment required to complete, Russia has made some gains and could continue to do so should Ukraine fail to maintain a consistent defense.
In the British Ministry of Defence’s Tuesday update, officials warned that Russia is unlikely to take full control of the town imminently “because Ukrainian forces maintain stable defense lines in depth and control over supply routes.”
Russia may therefore be close to a breakthrough, but Ukraine appears to have the manpower, the weapons, and the ammunition required to continue to hold off Russian troops.
Whether Ukrainian forces will be able to maintain that defense, however, depends on how Russia’s planned offensive for the new year pans out and whether Ukraine can continue to supply troops in the region with necessary weapons.
MORE: Is Donald Trump a ‘Cognitive Mess’?
MORE: Should Joe Biden Really Run in 2024?
MORE: Ron DeSantis May Peak Too Early
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
Yrral
January 10, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Zelensky is no more than the Supreme All Lies Commander of Ukraine,that is never satisfied of what others can do for him,that he supposed to be for his own self and Ukraine
TheDon
January 10, 2023 at 9:47 pm
Win is questionable.
I looked at drone footage on BBC.
Wow, One tank taking over a destroyed town of about 1 mile by 1 mile.
Let’s see.
1 year, one town of about 1 square miles and 100,000 Russian lives and probably an equal ukrainian.
Well, I predict, Russia will run out of soldiers as fast as ammo.
Maybe Putin can tell us his goal again.
I don’t think I really understood his mission.
I’m sure his puppet generals do understand.
vnvet
January 11, 2023 at 4:28 am
Yes, they could if they were not having to face interference from other countries on a daily base. It was my understanding that this war was just between Russia and Ukraine only. I did not know that Russia is at war with Ukraine plus 3-5 other countries who are supplying all of this military(drones, missiles, tanks and etc.)equipment plus money to Ukraine. If the war is between Ukraine and Russia, then let the 2 go at it, and may the best man win. But these other countries need to keep out of it all together.
Johnny Ray
January 11, 2023 at 6:49 am
The Battle of Soledar was won by…Wagner, not Russia. Supposedly, Wagner Kamikze Kriminals made attacks in waves losing over 750 dead in one day, and thousands over the course of the battle taking months to capture and control this one small town. But, not let’s blink: Ukraine lost the Battle for Soledar, and the salt mine tunnels there which Prighozin wanted for his personal empire.
What concerns me at the moment is, where are they getting the weapons and ammo including operational tanks??? I thought Russia was just about out of both. The tank is on “E”. Also, due to a rift between Prighozin and the Russian generals, the Wagner group was put on short rations as revenge. Could it be Russia is not out of ammo and there is no significant conflict between Wagner and Russia MoD?
Experts claim Soledar and Bakhmut have no real strategic value. I wonder if that is precisely accurate.
Every battle fits into the overall strategy, even the ones you lose.
Tomb
January 11, 2023 at 11:56 am
Silly title.
Of course Putin can win another battle !
?