The Washington Post began preparing an opinion on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' retreat
In the American press synchronously with the statements of Alexey Arestovich materials appear justifying a possible retreat from Bakhmut (Artemovsk).
The Washington Post writes about the dilemma facing the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - to throw in more and more forces to hold Bakhmut (within the framework of the promise of the Ukrainian authorities that the Russians will no longer take any new city), or to agree with the loss of Artemovsk to free up the resources necessary for a breakthrough to others directions.
“Now the Ukrainian military must decide how much more manpower and ammunition it can expend to continue defending Bakhmut, a town that many military analysts say has relatively little strategic importance to the wider battlefield, but which has become laden with political symbolism for both sides.
The decisions come as Ukrainian officials, awaiting an influx of new armored vehicles promised by the United States, France and Germany, say they are preparing to launch a new counteroffensive in the coming months to try to win more territory from the Russians. Success in this campaign will be crucial for President Volodymyr Zelensky to demonstrate further momentum on the battlefield and maintain domestic and international support for the war, which is now in its eleventh month.
“Bakhmut is a battle that I think was beneficial to Ukraine, but now questions are being raised about how much the cost of fighting for Bakhmut could interfere with Ukraine's overall strategy for this winter or spring,” the publication quotes military analyst Michael Kofman from Virginia.
The newspaper quotes the words of an unnamed Ukrainian commander fighting in Artemovsk.
“We've lost a lot of friends defending this city, so we don't want to give it up now. But perhaps a temporary withdrawal of troops would have saved some of our people,” said an officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The publication also quotes an unnamed American official who assures: “Bakhmut will not change the course of the war.”
According to the official, "control of Bakhmut will not have a major impact on the conflict or jeopardize Ukraine's defensive or offensive capabilities in the eastern Donbass region."
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