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| Bakhmut Isolation Escalates as Russia Nears Encirclement in Ukraine Conflict |
Key developments on Feb. 5:
According to the UK Defense Ministry, Bakhmut is facing growing isolation as Russian forces close in, making it challenging for Ukraine to maintain supply lines to their troops in the city. The statement was made on February 5th.
The latest intelligence report arrives as the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner mercenary group claim to have made gains in the Bakhmut area, located in northern Donetsk Oblast, and towards Vuhledar, a town approximately 50 kilometers from the Russian-controlled Donetsk city. After months of intense fighting around Bakhmut, Russian forces appear to be escalating their attack, having recently captured Soledar, a salt-mining town located about 15 kilometers northeast of the city.
The UK Defense Ministry, in its February 5 intelligence report, confirmed that Russia has made steady progress over the past week in surrounding Bakhmut. The bulletin stated that Russia's advances have put Ukraine's two primary supply routes into the city within the range of Russian artillery fire.
According to the UK Defense Ministry, in a tweet, Bakhmut is facing growing isolation, despite the availability of alternative cross-country supply routes for Ukrainian forces. The ministry stated, “While multiple alternative cross-country supply routes remain available to Ukrainian forces, Bakhmut is increasingly isolated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the worsening situation around Bakhmut but promised that Ukraine will continue to fight for the city as long as possible. The pre-war population of over 70,000 has greatly diminished, with only 5,900 civilians, including around 200 children, still residing in Bakhmut according to the National Police.
In his address on February 4th, President Zelensky warned that Russia was gathering additional troops to breach Ukraine's defensive positions, admitting that the front-line situation was becoming increasingly challenging. Zelensky highlighted the war's most active areas, which include Bakhmut, Vuhledar, and Lyman, a city in Donetsk Oblast that was liberated by Ukraine in October.
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