Ukraine “very soon” to take advantage of Russian forces’ exhaustion near Bakhmut – Gen. Syrskyi

As Russian troops are getting exhausted trying to capture Bakhmut at any cost, Ukraine will take advantage of this opportunity "very soon" as it did before in Kyiv and Kharkiv oblasts, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, wrote in Telegram. The Russian forces have been trying to take the city of Bakhmut in the northwest of Donetsk Oblast for months. Gen. Syrskyi wrote:

“The aggressor does not give up hope of taking Bakhmut at any cost, despite the losses in manpower and equipment.  The main forces of the [Russian Federation] in this direction are representatives of the PMC Wagner. Not sparing anything, they are losing significant strength and are becoming exhausted. Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did once near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliia, and Kupiansk."

He referred to two successful military operations conducted by Ukraine in 2022.

In late March 2022, after a month of failed assaults on Kyiv, facing staunch Ukrainian resistance and the threat of encirclement, Russia had to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine's northern oblasts of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy, officially presenting the move as a "goodwill gesture." In September 2022, Ukraine liberated most of the occupied parts of Kharkiv Oblast, the northwestern part of Donetsk Oblast, and small areas of western Luhansk Oblast during the blitz operation known as the Kharkiv counteroffensive. Russian troops chaotically retreated from the area within days, later calling their rout a planned “regrouping.” Gen. Syrskyi also praised Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the country's east, "particularly the units of 93rd, 10th, 57th, and 5th brigades," who show "superhuman resilience, courage, and bravery" under continuous fire of the enemy's artillery and aircraft. Read also:

• Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy visits Bakhmut area amid Russian efforts to encircle city
• Ukraine’s adoption of Western artillery rendered Russian counter-battery fire ineffective – GenStaff
• What Ukraine needs to defeat Russia in 2023
• Russia likely tries to make gains in Donbas before losing initiative in Ukraine – ISW
• Wagner Group expected to free convict soldiers, exacerbating its personnel issues – UK Intel
• Russian spring offensive in Donbas likely approaching culmination – ISW
• Fighting continues on the three sides of Bakhmut — General Syrskyi