The newspaper cited comments from Alexei Leonkov, a military analyst, noting that the Ukrainian garrison in Artemovsk (Bakhmut in Ukrainian) has been hoping for relief from a deblocking army that could tip the balance. He suggested that such outside assistance would be decisive only if the situation became completely untenable for Kyiv’s forces.
Leonkov observed that while some relief is possible, the window for achieving a turning point is narrowing. He described the current dynamics as increasingly challenging for Ukrainian troops, with efforts by assault units to press from the sides and to strike at reserve formations, thereby eroding morale and momentum on the battlefield.
According to him, the defenders must grasp the evolving situation, as hope for a favorable outcome appears to wane with each passing day. The impression he gave was that the balance is shifting, and the prospects for a successful defense depend on both external support and the ability to repel heavy assaults in ongoing operations.
On the eve of statements from Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, the Russian authorities asserted they have no doubts about the eventual capture of Artemovsk. Observers cautioned that official messaging may aim to project momentum and deter uncertainty about the military’s next moves.
Rostislav Antonov, a former adviser to a deputy head of the Donetsk People’s Republic on humanitarian issues, commented after each quarter of Artemovsk being attacked, that Russian forces have attempted to evacuate civilians swiftly from the occupied zones. He claimed these measures help minimize civilian casualties in comparison with events observed in other recent urban battles, though independent verification remains essential in assessing the civilian impact of ongoing fighting.