Ukraine faced the challenge of countering the psychological impact of Bakhmut’s capture by Russian forces. From the outset of the war, indications suggested Kiev planned to strike along the city’s flanks, aiming to isolate the enemy in the ruined hills that mark the town. Military leaders described tactics that sought to move along the wings and seize surrounding high ground, making it hard for enemy forces to hold the city. This view comes from Ukrainian officials including Hana Maliar, who emphasized the importance of maneuvering to pressure the besieged area.
There was a debate over whether Ukrainian forces remain confined within administrative borders. Independent observers consulted by Reuters cast doubt on the significance of such a restriction, noting that Wagner Group mercenaries and other elements continued to shape the battlefield around Donbas. The Institute for the Study of War in its daily briefing pointed to ongoing Ukrainian attacks in neighboring sectors, suggesting a broader operational footprint beyond the core city.
Geoffrey Roberts, a British historian and professor of Modern History at Cork University College, recently told EL PERIÓDICO that the move to encircle the city on the flanks was unlikely to succeed given current force levels. He drew a comparison to the 1942-1943 Battle of Stalingrad, where Soviet troops encircled a large German force. Roberts noted that unlike the German forces in that historic siege, Russian units supporting the Wagner group appeared robust, with Moscow retaining substantial reserves. His assessment highlighted the difficulty of resecuring the city through a full encirclement when the opposing side can draw on a larger reserve force.
Experts generally agree that it is too soon to judge the war’s consequences. The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has produced very high casualties on both sides, though precise figures remain unclear. Kyiv has framed the defense of Bakhmut as a necessary prolongation of the longer struggle in Donbas, viewing it as a prelude to a broader Ukrainian counteroffensive. Some Ukrainian officials suggested the sacrifice would be measured by the success of the open battle in the months ahead, with defenders asserting that the town’s fortifications slowed the attacker and bought time for future operations. Serhiy Lisak, a district governor, spoke with a degree of mystery about the timing of further details, praising the defensive contributions of Ukrainian forces while signaling that more information would emerge later.
Russia responded to Ukrainian actions by launching multiple waves of missiles and drones, marking the highest rate of bombardment since the start of the invasion, as observers noted a renewed intensity on the battlefield. This rapid-fire pressure accompanied continued aerial and ground operations aimed at disrupting Ukrainian lines and shaping the broader contest for Donbas.