The situation in Bakhmut is difficult, but relatively stable.

Military expert Oleg Zhdanov stated that the situation with the defense of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, which the Ukrainian military has heroically held for six months, is difficult, but more or less stable. He emphasized that there are a number of factors that contribute to the Defense Forces in the fight for the fortress city.

In an interview with TSN, Zhdanov noted that even the topography of the area in the Bakhmut area helps the Ukrainian military defend the city and causes difficulties for the Russian invaders. In addition, Bakhmut is larger than Soledar, on which the occupiers have now concentrated their efforts.

At the same time, the expert added that even the capture of Soledar by the occupiers would only create a threat to attempts to encircle Bakhmut, but not the encirclement of the city itself.

“They can make a breakthrough in our defense, moving in the direction of Sloviansk. But we have a built line of defense on the Donetsk Canal. Equipment will definitely not pass through the canal, and you will not particularly advance on water on foot. If they can take Soledar, from Bakhmut we can carry out flanking strikes, surrounding the Russian group in Soledar,” Zhdanov believes.

According to him, the possible loss of Soledar does not give clear advantages to the Russian army. Keeping the city would mean preserving the front line and destroying the political plans of Prigozhin and Kadyrov, who recently hit rock bottom, realizing that in the event of a failure in Soledar, all “credits” to Putin could collapse in one moment.

At the same time, due to the concentration of the occupiers’ efforts on Soledar, the pressure of Russian troops in the Bakhmut area decreased.

“Part of the artillery retreated near Soledar, the number of raids decreased. The situation there (near Bakhmut – ed.) is difficult, but more or less stable,” Zhdanov noted.

The assault of Soledar by the Russian invaders: the latest news

Taras Berezovets, an officer of the first separate special forces brigade named after Ivan Bohun, said that the entire elite of the Russian army, which tried to capture Bakhmut, moved to Soledar. He noted that the pressure on Bakhmut has significantly decreased, and that on Soledar has increased accordingly.

CNN journalists note that the Armed Forces continue to fight fiercely for Soledar, there are no signs of retreat. The correspondents said that they are in contact with the Ukrainian soldier who is currently in Soledar. He also denies claims by the Russians that they are in full control of the city.

The head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said that more than half a thousand civilians are now in Soledar, where heavy fighting is taking place. These are mostly people over 50 years old.