Oleg Zhdanov emphasized that the Russian army has already passed the peak of its combat capabilities.

Bakhmut is important and if the Russian occupiers capture it, they will make it the “capture of Berlin”. The Russians need to let off steam and finish them off on all other areas of the front.

“The fact is that if, God forbid, Russia captures Bakhmut, they will make this capture the ‘capture of Berlin’. They will trumpet this event as if they took Berlin in ’45. And this will raise the military mood in society. It will provoke wave: a certain percentage will run to the military commissars: “Our army is the strongest. We can beat everyone. We must beat everyone.” Putin will rub his nose in all the Western countries and say: “You see, everything is going according to plan for me. Success has been achieved. If you don’t sit down with me at the negotiating table, tomorrow there will be another city.” And then there will be a third one, and then there will be Kyiv. It cannot be allowed,” military expert Oleg Zhdanov said.

At the same time, he noted that any city could have been in Bakhmut’s place, but they went to storm this city and could no longer divert their troops to another direction.

“The price of the question here is the price of ending the turning point in this war. If we do not defend Bakhmut, then the turning point in the war has not come. The war is dragging on. Putin has reasons to demand negotiations with the West, because his operation is going according to plan and he is winning Russia is beginning to be “victorious” with a bunch of idiot patriots there, who will run to the Military Commissariat: “Give me a rifle, I’ll go kill Dills or Khokhlovs.” This is what Bakhmut is. Therefore, the asking price may be adequate. Yes, these are losses from ours Because we have to stop somewhere, you know? We have to stop for good, let the Russian army let off steam and then finish it off in all other areas,” the expert explained.

According to him, the Russian army has already passed the peak of its combat capabilities and only a decline awaits them.

The situation in Bakhmut – what is known

Fighting has been going on around Bakhmut since August. The Ukrainian army successfully holds its positions and repels Russian attacks.

On December 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the situation remains critical in the key areas of Donbas – Bakhmut, Soledar, Maryinka, Kreminna.

In turn, the captain of the National Guard of Ukraine, Petro Kuzyk, reported that the occupiers are “laying down” an incredible number of personnel.