Battlefield Bakhmut: Why Russia & Ukraine are Fighting Over this City

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for December 21, 2022:

– Pentagon admits Russia is gaining ground in Bakhmut;

– Zelensky visit to Bakhmut mirrors similar visit to Lysychansk before it fell to Russian forces;

– Western media admits Russia has Ukraine outgunned 6 to 1 in Bakhmut;

– Claims that Russian losses are as significant as catastrophic toll Ukraine is suffering in Bakhmut does not reflect reality if Russia outguns Ukraine significantly;

– Bakhmut is a significant transportation hub and a crucial fortified position along one of Ukraine’s last major defensive lines in the east;

– The fall of Bakhmut may lead to a similar breakthrough like Popasna;

– Russian forces appear interested in destroying Ukraine’s military at Bakhmut more than taking the city itself;

References:

Gonzalo Lira Roundtable – The Roundtable #38: Why Bakhmut Matters:
https://youtu.be/sNhUoLwgP08

AP – Russian rockets hit eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk (May 2022):
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukr…

Ukrinform – Enemy shells Pokrovsk with Iskanders five times in past day, casualties reported:
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/…

US Department of Defense – Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary, Holds a Press Briefing Dec. 20, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

PBS – Zelenskyy visits front line in Bakhmut while Putin praises troops in Kremlin:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ze…

ABC Australia – Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits frontline cities as Russia resumes strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-0…

Reuters – Analysis: Russia’s grim battle for Bakhmut may yield pyrrhic victory at best:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/…

The Times – Ice cold test of resolve in Ukraine’s ‘meat grinder’:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk…

NY Times – Russia’s Battle for Bakhmut:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/br…

WSJ – Battle for Bakhmut Is Critical Test of Russia’s Prospects in Ukraine:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/…