Bakhmut Folds: Russia Takes City + Ukraine’s Struggle Against Toll of Attrition

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for May 22, 2023:

– Russian Ministry of Defense claims the Donbass city of Bakhmut/Artyomovsk has been fully taken by Russian forces; – Western analysts claim the city’s capture will not “turn the tide” of the conflict, ignoring the war of attrition taking place superseding territorial advances;

– The US is sending another weapons package to Ukraine featuring an unspecified amount of ammunition for HIMARS, artillery systems, anti-tank weapons, and both bridging and logistics equipment;

– The US is also incrementally moving in favor of sending Ukraine F-16 fighter jets through third party nations in Europe. The F-16 represents no specific capability Ukraine’s own air force didn’t have before being removed from the battlefield;

– The Western media continues incrementally admitting the limits in military industrial output preventing the US and Europe from providing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition to match or exceed Russia’s military capabilities;

References:

TASS – Putin congratulates Wagner assault teams with liberation of Artyomovsk — Kremlin (May 21, 2023):
https://tass.com/defense/1620655

Associated Press (via NPR) – President Zelenskyy has said that Bakhmut is destroyed as Russia claims victory there (May 21, 2023):
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/21/117738…

NY Times – Defenses Carved Into the Earth (December 2022):
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2…

US Department of Defense – Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine (May 21, 2023):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases…

Politico – Biden set to announce new military aid for Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy (May 19, 2023):
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05…

Washington Post – Europe’s military industrial capabilities fall short of Ukraine’s needs (May 19, 2023):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…