



Military Expert Boris Rozhin on the Situation in the #Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) Sector as in the Evening of 7 Mar 2023; pub. 23:54

1. The Situation for the Enemy in the city has deteriorated overnight. There are results of fire control over the roads.

2. Despite Reports of Withdrawal of some units, the enemy does not abandon attempts to hold the defences in the western and part of the central parts of the city.

There is a political objective to hold #Bakhmut at all costs, which is being met by hard defences within the city limits and attempts to hold the townships of #Krasnoye, #Khromovo and #Bogdanov, despite pressure from Wagner assault squads near #Bogdanov and #Krasnoye.

There is pressure from the West to abandon #Bakhmut, but Kiev has become hostage to its propaganda campaign to hold the town.

3. There is a Redeployment of reserves to hold the city, which were intended for the #Kupyansk, Krasny #Liman and #Zaporozhye directions. They are insurance in case Wagner breaks through AFU defences near #Khromovo and closes the cauldron. Then the reserves will be used for counterstrikes near #Berkhovka, #Yagodnoye and #Khromovo.

4. Part of the Reserves have already been deployed for counterstrikes in the direction of #Kleshchiyevka and #Krasnoye. Their task is to push back our troops from the road to #Bakhmut via #Krasnoye and formally continue supplying the defending forces in the city, bringing in at least something at night despite shelling.

The road is now virtually inaccessible. Attempts by AFU counterattacks to deblock it have failed due to the good work of our attackers, spotters and Wagner artillery, which have dampened the enemy's efforts.

5. Prigozhin Stressed that the shell conflict with the Ministry of Defence is still unresolved. Hardware friction should affect the pace of the operation in #Artyomovsk.

Defence Minister Shoigu said today that the enemy lost 11,000 men in #Artyomovsk in February.

Prigozhin noted that the enemy has 12-20 thousand people in #Artyomovsk (the city, #Krasnoye, #Khromovo, and Chasov Yar).

Part of the enemy reserves are concentrated near Chasov Yar. They intend to use operational reserves near #Konstantinovka and #Kramatorsk in case the crisis becomes operational.

6. In the Middle and Third Week of March they will have the question of a final withdrawal from the city or a road deblocking.

The AFU in #Artyomovsk has a certain stockpile of arms and ammunition, including heavy weapons, but with the roads cut off and the intensity of fighting like this, the stockpile will be used up very quickly. The situation in #Severodonetsk and #Mariupol will repeat itself, when the enemy defended in the presence of heavy weapons, but after the ammunition for tanks, "Grads" ran out, it became much harder for them and much easier for us.

Therefore, supply issues play a crucial role in predicting the pace of the liberation of the city.

7. By the Evening of 7 March 2023. 45-52% of Bakhmut's territory is under the control of Wagner PMC assault squads.

Boris Rozhin specially for Voenkor Kotenok Z Channel