The Ukrainian armed forces have regained their positions around

Bakhmut

, Donetsk region, and continue to hold the strategically important city.

However, Russian troops continue to storm it.

This was reported in a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts, referring to the statements of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, emphasize that the invaders continued their assault on the city of Bakhmut and even carried out additional unsuccessful offensive actions to the northwest of the city in the area of ​​Orikhovo-Vasylivka, which is 12 km to the northwest.

"Ukrainian troops have regained positions around Bakhmut, and Ukrainian officials continue to emphasize the importance of continuing the defense of Ukraine in this area on March 31," American analysts emphasize.

Geolocation footage for March 31 indicates that the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counterattack southwest of Bakhmut and regained lost positions south of Ivanovsky, located about 7 km southwest of the city.

"Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar stated on March 31 that the defense of Ukraine Bakhmut became the "most expensive" Russian effort during the war and emphasized that "the time, weapons, equipment and huge losses spent by the enemy to capture Bakhmut does not justify itself from the point of view of military expediency", - a representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is quoted in ISW.

Malyar's statement confirms the Institute's assessment that the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut remains strategically reliable as long as the Defense Forces of Ukraine force the Russian troops to withdraw manpower and equipment without major losses for the Ukrainian troops.

ISW battle map.

Also, on March 31, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, reported that the Russian troops in some areas of Bakhmut are visibly nervous, because time is not against them.

In addition, the occupiers have less and less human resources to storm Ukrainian positions.

At the same time, analysts note that the Russian army continued offensive operations in Bakhmut, as well as in its surroundings.

Geolocation footage from March 31 shows a Wagner group flag on a building in downtown Bakhmut within a few blocks of the city administration building.

The ISW adds that Russian "militants" claimed that PKK troops continued to attack northern and southern Bakhmut, and also unsuccessfully tried to advance westward towards Khromovo.

In addition, one military blogger noted that Yevgeny Prigozhin's fighters are unable to make significant progress in Bakhmut, and all attacks in and around the city are unsuccessful.

In turn, the owner of the "Wagnera" group said: there are no signs that Ukrainian troops are leaving Bakhmut.

He also called on conventional Russian forces around the city to deploy to hold the flanks and support operations there. 

ISW battle map.

Recall that

Read also:

  • Intelligence reported how the armed forces were preparing for a counteroffensive

  • "Time is against Russia": the Ministry of Defense spoke about the situation in Bakhmut

  • He turned around with a "pshikom": intelligence commented on the "great offensive" of the Russians

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