Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu chairs a meeting during what the defence ministry said to be an inspection of a forward command post of Russian armed forces deployed in Ukraine, at an unknown location in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in this handout image published March 4, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
March 7 (Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that the seizure of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine would allow Moscow’s forces to mount further offensive operations.
Russian forces have been waging an intense campaign for months to seize control of the small city in what would become their first significant territorial advance since last summer.
Shoigu also said the West was increasing its arms deliveries to Ukraine, but vowed they would not change the course of events on the battlefield.
“The liberation of Artemovsk continues,” Shoigu said in televised remarks, using the old Soviet-era name for Bakhmut.
“The city is an important hub for defending Ukrainian troops in the Donbas. Taking it under control will allow further offensive actions to be conducted deep into Ukraine’s defensive lines,” Shoigu said.
The heavily industrialised Donbas region of eastern Ukraine comprises Donetsk and Luhansk, which are both claimed by Russia along with two other Ukrainian regions as its own territory.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group which is leading the battle for the city, said last Friday that his forces had “practically surrounded” Bakhmut.
Ukraine’s top generals have vowed to keep defending the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly address on Monday.
“The city is an important hub for defending Ukrainian troops in the Donbas. Taking it under control will allow further offensive actions to be conducted deep into Ukraine’s defensive lines,”
Last April, the orcs were 17km from Bakhmut. This was long before Ukraine had the assistance from the West, such as artillery and Himars. So in 11 months, the orcs have travelled 17km, and still not took Bakhmut. The next city is Kramatorsk, which is 35km from Bakhmut, and is a much larger city. I don’t see the terrorists getting anywhere near to Karamatorsk or Illovaisk, I see massive russian defeats on the horizon, once the spring rains stop.
Time to break RuSSia’s ass! I’m so fed up with these idiots! Now the chinese clowns are also getting a big mouth. And what is the hairsniffing mummy in D.C. doing? Yeah, reducing US nuclear weapons. I just wanna scream and cause a hurrican on Jupiter! Fucking shit!
” said last Friday that his forces had “practically surrounded” Bakhmut.”
According to Larry Johnson and Douglas MacGregor, Ukraine is practically defeated. I’d like to know what they are drinking. It’s got to be much stronger than Vodka or single malt.
Sir Foccusser says rubles make you blind…