Russian occupants will not be able to capture Bakhmut in the near future - ISW

The Russian occupation army continues to storm the positions of Ukrainian soldiers around Bakhmut, Donetsk Region. However, Russian troops will not be able to capture the city in the near term.

In turn, Ukrainian troops continue to control the situation in Bakhmut. This is stated in an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.

The invaders claim to have made some progress in the northeast and east of Bakhmut over the past few days. However, the occupiers' advance has been slow, and does not mean that Russian troops will be able to surround Bakhmut any time soon, much less that they will be able to take the city by frontal assaults.

ISW analysts are confident that Ukrainian forces have a much better chance of withdrawing from Bakhmut in a controlled manner than getting surrounded. It is also noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces will still be able to hold their positions in Bakhmut.

At the same time, the Russian occupants suffer significant losses during the fighting for Bakhmut. That said, Ukraine's decision to stay or retreat from Bakhmut will depend on the Ukrainian command's assessment of the likelihood that they can force Russian attacks to end near or behind their current positions, balanced with the risk of losing access to major withdrawal routes.

As a reminder, reports have been circulating online in recent days about the alleged withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut in Donetschina, and the Russians are already celebrating the "encirclement" of the city. However, the Eastern Group of Forces denied these fakes.

Earlier, Bakhmut Deputy Mayor Alexander Marchenko said that street battles between Russian occupation troops and Ukrainian defenders continue in Bakhmut. Russia does not control the city.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, Ukrainian troops continue to fight fiercely for Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, which currently represents a key strategic target of the Russian occupiers. The defense forces intend to defend the city to the last, at least as long as they have enough strength and resources to do so.

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