Russia sends elite troops to Bakhmut after losses by Wagner groupRussia sends elite troops to Bakhmut after losses by Wagner group

Information from a Ukrainian military

According to The New Voice of Ukraine, Colonel Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Military Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has assured that Russia has transferred some of its elite units to Bakhmut.

Troop Decreases in the Wagner Group

The decision was reportedly made due to the huge losses in that coveted city of soldiers from the mercenary group, Wagner, which has been fighting for Russia on its own since the beginning of the invasion.

More specialists

So additional units of the regular army, which include paratroopers and motor marines, have been brought in to help the Russian troops capture the city.

No troops means no advance

Without this injection of troops, Cherevatyi said that Russia would not be able to “conduct such aggressive dynamic military actions” toward Bakhmut.

New Troops Losses

However, the insider added that losses among these soldiers were also high, according to Euromaidan Press.

Commander Confirms Russian Movement

Although it is difficult to independently verify the veracity of Cherevatyi’s revelations, the overall commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed Russia’s movement in Bakhmut.

Scorched-earth tactics

“The enemy has switched to Syria’s so-called scorched-earth tactics. It has been destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire,” said Oleksandr Syrskyi, Yahoo’s Nicholas Cecil reported.

Spetsnaz and VDV

According to Cecil, who cited information collected by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian Spetsnaz special forces and VDV airborne units were sent to Bakhmut.

Wagner and Russian government acknowledge roles in Bakhmut

On April 11, the ISW reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin of the Wagner Group acknowledged each other’s roles in Bakhmut.

Support

However, it noted that the unspecified Russian airborne VDV forces were probably just supporting Wagner’s troops, and not advancing.

Minimizing Russian casualties

“This set of forces suggests that the Russian government intends to use the Wagner Group to capture Bakhmut, minimizing casualties among conventional Russian forces,” the ISW added.

Fierce Fighting

Fighting in and around Bakhmut has increased in recent weeks, according to Newsweek correspondent Isabel Van Brugen, who has observed some videos on social media.

Explosions and gunfire

“Explosions and gunfire can be heard throughout the three-minute clip of Ukraine’s ground forces,” Van Brugen wrote.

Destruction

He added: “The footage shows Ukrainian soldiers taking cover, in destroyed buildings full of holes, and smoke rising into the air after apparent explosions in the city streets.”

General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky

On April 14, the British Ministry of Defense reported that Colonel General, Mikhail Teplinsky, had likely returned as commander of Russia’s airborne units, which could explain why the battle in Bakhmut has resumed.

Russia’s elite units are in Bakhmut

The British Ministry of Defense also confirmed that Russian airborne forces have “resumed a key mission in the battle for Bakhmut.”

Will things get worse?

So the battle for Bakhmut could reach new levels of violence in the coming weeks, a situation that President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is prepared to face.

Zelensky says he doesn’t want to lose soldiers

“For me, the most important thing is not to lose our soldiers,” Zelensky explained during a press conference in Poland, according to Newsweek.

Pulling back may be an option

“Of course, if there is a time of even hotter events and the danger that we will lose our personnel because of the siege, the corresponding correct decisions will be made by the generals there,” Zelensky added.

Ukraine has managed to stop the Russian advance

What will happen in Bakhmut in the coming weeks is still undefined, but the Ukrainian military has indeed managed to stop Russia’s winter advance.

Spring Offensive

It remains to be seen what each side has prepared to tackle the expected spring offensive.

*** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***

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