Ukraine sets up ambush in "dead zone" Bakhmut

Ukraine lập trận địa mai phục ở vùng đất chết Bakhmut - 1 — Ukrainian soldiers open fire near Bakhmut (Photo: New York Times(.

According to the New York Times , the British Defense Intelligence Agency said on March 11 that in the past four days, Wagner, a paramilitary force participating in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, has controlled most of the eastern part of Bakhmut city, Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine.

Now, the Bakhmutka River has become the new front line between Russia and Ukraine in this city. The river flows from north to south, running through the city center.

Bakhmut has become a "dead zone" and this is likely to pose a major challenge to Russia's Wagner mercenaries as they try to continue their offensive westward, according to the British Ministry of Defence .

"The area has become a dead zone, causing great difficulties for Wagner forces trying to continue their frontal attack to the west," the British intelligence agency's report said.

Ukraine lập trận địa mai phục ở vùng đất chết Bakhmut - 2 — The Bakhmutka River becomes the new front line between Russia and Ukraine in Bakhmut (Photo: Maxar).

Recent satellite imagery shows that bridges over the Bakhmutka River have been destroyed. Ukraine also blew up a pontoon bridge earlier to block Russian forces from crossing the river. Now, Ukraine appears to be using this as its new line of defense.

"With Ukrainian units able to fire from fortified buildings to the west, the area has become a dead zone, potentially posing a serious challenge to Wagner forces attempting to continue their frontal assault westwards. However, Ukrainian forces and their supply lines to the west remain vulnerable to continued Russian attacks aimed at overwhelming defenders from the north and south," the UK defence intelligence agency's report assessed.

Bakhmut is the fiercest and longest-running front in Ukraine. Russia has been trying to take control of the city since last summer but has encountered fierce resistance from Ukraine. Both Moscow and Kiev believe that if Bakhmut falls, Russia could advance deeper into eastern Ukraine. That is why Kiev is trying to "hold" Russian forces there for as long as possible before launching a large-scale counterattack with the support of Western weapons. "We need time to gather resources and start the spring counteroffensive, which is coming soon," a Ukrainian military leader said on March 11.

According to military experts, Kiev's counter-offensive is likely to focus on the area south of Bakhmut. Ukraine may seek to reach the Russian-controlled port of Melitopol, in an effort to isolate Moscow's forces in Crimea from those in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia is also said to be trying to reinforce Bakhmut. On March 10, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the military command of eastern Ukraine, said that Russia was sending regular troops to replace units of the private paramilitary group Wagner in the third wave of the attack on the city. Previously, Wagner was considered the main force of Russia in the operation to attack Bakhmut.