Massive destruction – aerial photos show Bachmut in rubble and ashes

The recapture of Bakhmut by the Ukrainians dragged on for weeks – and exacted a high price in human lives on both sides. The city itself has been largely destroyed, on the one hand by air raids and artillery fire – on the other hand probably also by the detonation of Russian troops.

Kiev: Counteroffensive not yet in full swing
From Kiev it was said on Friday evening that the major counter-offensive was not yet in full swing. We are still in the sampling phase and have not deployed the main forces yet. “Everyone wants a big victory now and immediately,” Ukrainian land forces commander Olexander Syrskyj told the British newspaper The Guardian on Friday. However, the process leading to victory takes some time, because a lot of strength and a lot of material is concentrated on both sides.

In addition, the Russians had put up many obstacles, Syrskyj said. The opponents are also in the majority. “I have never fought against a smaller number of enemies. They were always outnumbered by us,” Syrskyj emphasized. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously admitted in an interview that his troops were progressing more slowly than expected. His agency accused the Russian side of reluctant supplies of weapons from the West to expand their defensive positions.

“Don’t expect the attack to be anything quick”
However, Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovalyov confirmed information about small gains in the south. In the Zaporizhia region, the liberated positions in the Berdyansk and Melitopol directions must now be reinforced. In the south of the country, Ukrainian troops are advancing gradually and steadily, even though they are hampered by Russian minefields. “You should not expect the offensive to become something very fast,” deputy defense minister Hanna Maljar said on Ukrainian television on Friday. The big blow is yet to come. Some reserve units would not be deployed until later.

Zelenskyy’s adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said the hesitant supply of weapons from the West enabled the Russians to dig deeper and set up a system of minefields. Breaking through the Russian front lines now requires a “smart and deliberate approach”. “The soldier’s life is the highest value for Ukraine,” Podoliak stressed. The Real War is not a Hollywood blockbuster. The military leadership would therefore not base its action on the “fans in the stands” but on “military science and common sense”.

Selenskyj does not want to be pressured
Selenskyj also recently admitted to having difficulties with the counter-offensive, which is still in its early stages and with Ukraine also counting on new weapons from the West, such as the German Leopard main battle tank. The advance is “slower than desired”. But don’t be pressured. Deputy Defense Minister Maljar has now said the east remains the target of Russian attacks. Russia is still trying to completely conquer the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the industrial region of Donbass.

Ukraine says it has recaptured eight villages in the south in the past two weeks. The advance into the heavily fortified and mining areas under Russian control, though small, is the largest since November. The Kiev leadership has been preparing for months for the counter-offensive, which it hopes will mark a turning point in the war. However, it has imposed a news freeze and independent reports are scarce. But there would be heavy casualties on both sides. Experts say most Ukrainian troops have yet to be deployed, some of them trained and equipped by the West.