Al Jazeera: Separatist Forces claim to retake key Ukrainian villages in major assault

[WarGamer]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/7/ukraine-holds-back-russian-advance-in-key-town-of-bakhmut

Bakhmut – a wine-producing and salt-mining town on the main road from Donetsk to the capital Kyiv once home to 70,000 people – would be a major prize if Russia has any hope of securing the region after invading Ukraine in February. Intense shelling was audible from the direction of Otradovka, Veselaya Dolina, and Zaitsevo, which are now apparently in the hands of forces loyal to the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic now annexed by Russia.

A Ukrainian artillery commander named Serhiy told Al Jazeera that Ukrainian soldiers were in Bakhmut because “it is a key point”. Another Ukrainian soldier called Nikolai said the Russians were “throwing all their forces at the town”.

“Artillery, air power, even helicopters are attacking our positions,” said Nikolai. “They try to approach during night and day. And it’s their elite units and mercenaries. There are no regular Russians soldiers left.”



AJ coverage is the best... accurate and without cheerleader bias.

[Beastly Boy]

1. If Russia's elite units and mercenaries are struggling to take Bakhmut,

it says a lot about Ukraine's regular units.

I am guessing that elite units ans mercenaries means the combined force made up of Kadirovtsi and the Wagner group, the best known and most iconic of Russia's storm troopers.

[Kaleva]

2. The fighting in that area has been intense for weeks with RU forces making little progress

[Igel]

3. No "cheerleader bias".

What's "Ostrovka"?

If Ukr, it's "Ostrivka."

If Ru, "Ostrovka."

It cites Ukr POV yet frames it Ru.

[Xolodno]

4. From what I've read on Al Jazeera in previous articles...

...a lot of "regulars" have been moved to Kherson, hence why the counter attack by Ukraine in that area has been very limited in success.

Real question, what happens in 2-3 months from now?

[WarGamer]

5. That's the $64,000 question.

I know that Father Winter is moving in...

Most likely, the Russians are looking to stabilize their situation, get troops trained and in place...

Time is what the Russians need.

They need time to get equipment to the front. They need to manufacture ammo and weapons... I foresee a lot of defensive movements, mine laying... trench digging...


Ukraine on the other hand... needs to press the situation through the winter to prevent Russia from gaining strength over the next few months.

Will be interesting to watch from an observer interested in warfare... and a shitty time to watch as a human on Earth that's hoping every day 8 billion people don't die in a thermonuclear war because cooler heads couldn't prevail.