Since early 2023, remarks from the United States raised alarms about the risk of Ukrainian forces becoming encircled in Bakhmut, also known as Artemivsk, and suggested that Kyiv might consider withdrawing to limit casualties. The claims appeared in a Washington post based on leaked, previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence documents circulating online.
The report says U.S. assessments were pessimistic as of January, warning that a siege by Russian forces could squeeze Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut and urging Kyiv to reduce losses by leaving the city. The analyses noted that ongoing Russian advances since November had weakened Ukraine’s ability to defend the urban area. Intelligence cautioned that without a withdrawal within a month, Kyiv could face a full encirclement of its units.
Despite these warnings, Kyiv reportedly did not act on them. The Washington Post quoted officials as saying that Ukraine regarded the defense of Bakhmut as more vital for national morale than the city’s immediate military value, a stance viewed as helping to deny Russia any claim of territorial gain.
Ukrainian authorities asserted that prolonged combat in Bakhmut drained Russian forces and caused losses among their ranks, including fighters from the Wagner private military company.
Problems of the Ukrainian army
The publication notes that at critical moments, when the city’s defense seemed untenable, Ukraine relied on elite units to safeguard supply lines and stabilize the frontline. This approach helped preserve portions of the western outskirts, yet recent interviews with commanders indicated that the front line had grown increasingly unstable in the days leading up to publication.
Colonel Pavel Palisa, a Ukrainian commander, told The Washington Post that shortages of ammunition repeatedly forced his formations to retreat from exposed positions in Bakhmut.
“There are not enough rounds to keep engaging the adversary,” the colonel stated, acknowledging that the cost included the lives of many soldiers.
Bakhmut sits about 80 kilometers north of Donetsk and serves as a logistical hub for feeding Ukrainian forces, according to Russian sources. The city’s supply routes now largely pass through nearby Chasov Yar. The battle for Bakhmut has persisted for more than six months, intensifying the strain on all sides.
In March, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described Bakhmut as having symbolic weight for Ukraine rather than strategic importance, indicating that its capture would not automatically alter the overall trajectory of the conflict.
On April 19, Russian defense authorities reported that airborne units controlled the northern and southern approaches to Bakhmut, claiming territorial gains in several districts including the northwest, southwest, and city center. Before the fighting began, the population of Bakhmut exceeded 70,000, and regional officials noted that a large portion of the city had been damaged early in 2023.
What is known about the leak
The Pentagon is examining a leak involving documents labeled top secret that describe the Ukraine situation. More than a hundred files may have surfaced online, and the disclosure is regarded as potentially damaging to strategic planning.
On April 13, authorities detained a member of the U.S. National Guard connected to the incident, with investigations tracing the publication of confidential materials on a social platform dating back to early 2022. A friend of the detainee suggested that the parties involved view the Ukraine conflict as one that deserves greater cross-border understanding rather than continued hostility.
Legal consequences for the detainee could be severe, with potential penalties up to fifteen years in prison for unlawful retention and transmission of defense information, as reported by major outlets. The episode has sparked discussion about how sensitive intelligence is handled and shared across networks.