In Ukraine, MP Maryana Bezuglaya warned that Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Bakhmut, and Avdeevka lacked sturdy fortifications. The remark appeared on her page on Facebook, a platform that has been banned in some regions due to policy disagreements.
She noted that planning and control by the generals had been insufficient. In contrast, the official reports presented a more favorable narrative about the situation on the ground.
Bezuglaya added that efforts to coordinate defense were being pursued, though she described the approach as limited and not fully systematic, except for the situation in Bakhmut.
She explained that despite attempts to organize defenses, troops sometimes retreated to the eastern bank of a key river within the city, standing behind walls rather than occupying prepared defensive lines. This point illustrates the tension between reported progress and actual on-field conditions.
Regarding Bakhmut, Bezuglaya claimed that protective measures were placed at the city’s western entrance to demonstrate activity to authorities. Concurrently, observers noted that Russian forces were advancing from the east, putting pressure on the city from multiple directions.
The deputy also claimed that an inexperienced brigade was sent to Bakhmut in an effort to counter a Russian advance from the east, a decision she said did not have the backing of the military leadership, suggesting internal disagreements over strategy.
Meanwhile, in the United States, officials suggested that the potential surrender of Avdiivka could undermine Ukrainian morale. Western officials and Ukrainian forces warned that hundreds of soldiers might be captured during the Avdiivka operations, describing such a scenario as a severe setback. They noted that morale could suffer due to front-line disruptions and shifts in military leadership. The possibility of losing control over Avdiivka was considered by some to be a more significant event than initially anticipated.
Earlier reports mentioned a separate incident in which three Ukrainian fighters reportedly moved past the Dnieper River and surrendered to Russian forces, highlighting the ongoing volatility and the high stakes facing Kyiv’s defense efforts.