Journalist Yuriy Butusov tells Radio NV about Russian gains and losses at Bakhmut
“Russia has been conducting offensive operations for six months (since the beginning of May) with an attempt to seize Bakhmut, but so far all these attempts have been in vain. Russian troops suffer huge losses every day,” Butusov told Radio NV.
Meanwhile, he noted that the enemy is learning and changing tactics – “it is trying to draw conclusions based on its defeats, so it’s already getting certain results.”
“It should be stated that the enemy has captured areas to the south Bakhmut, and has significantly advanced in the last two weeks. And this, of course, escalates the situation around the city. This is a serious threat, which, of course, needs a response,” the journalist said.
The Russians are trying to act in a more coordinated manner, conduct better intelligence and planning. Also, to reduce the effectiveness of returns of fire by Ukrainian troops, they use many small groups of infantry, added Butusov.
Read also: Continuous assaults, water-logged trenches, and cold: How Ukraine is holding the line in Bakhmut
“They are concentrating forces for attacks on a narrow front in order to gain an advantage there and be able to push through our defenses with such pointed, targeted attacks, which, I emphasize, are more effective due to the fact that the enemy has changed the organization of intelligence, management and has a certain motivation for this,” Butusov said.
“For many months, the Ukrainian army has been grinding away the best Russian airborne, tank divisions, and various brigades in this part of the front. But now this (enemy) tactic is more effective for two reasons: The enemy is learning, and, on the other hand, of course, our people are also getting exhausted.”
In order to adapt to the enemy’s new tactics, trained and high-quality personnel at all levels are needed, but they are not always available and not at all areas of the front, as Ukraine is also suffering heavy losses, Butusov added.
The Russian “successes” near Bakhmut are laughable, Serhiy Cherevatyy, spokesman of the Eastern command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on national TV on Dec. 1.
The U.S. think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also reported that the Russians were exaggerating their successes at Bakhmut.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
