Russian army is far from operational encirclement of Bakhmut – ISW
Possible successes of the Russian army in Soledar, in the Donetsk region, do not mean that the occupiers will soon surround Bakhmut, as Russia confidently claims.
Analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War ISW report this.
Experts believe that even with the most generous interpretation of the narratives of Russian pro-war bloggers, who claim that the Russian army is fighting on the outskirts of Rozdolivka (about 6 km northwest of Soledar), the occupation forces are still far from the operational encirclement of Bakhmut.
In order to effectively cut off the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ supply lines to Bakhmut, the occupation forces must establish control over the T0513 Siversk – Bakhmut highway (currently 7 km west of the furthest point of the confirmed Russian offensive near Soledar) and enter the E40 Sloviansk – Bakhmut highway (13 km from the furthest point of the confirmed Russian offensive near Soledar).
Considering that the recent advance rate in this area is about several hundred meters per day, it is extremely unlikely that the occupation forces will be able to organize a mechanized offensive and move towards the encirclement of Bakhmut.
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Earlier, Advisor to the Presidential Office Oleksiy Arestovych said that the situation in Soledar is very difficult now – the city is half surrounded. The main efforts of the occupiers are to cut off Soledar from Bakhmut from the south and cut the road Soledar – Sloviansk.
