UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 375 - MARCH 3, 2023.

The Ukrainian forces seem to be creating conditions for a controlled withdrawal of their fighters from parts of Bakhmut.

Since May 2022, Russian forces have been fighting to take control of Bakhmut, a city with a pre-war population of about 70,000 people, and have suffered devastating losses in the process. Geolocated imagery released on March 3 confirms that Ukrainian troops have destroyed two key bridges in the Bakhmut area - one over the Bakhmutivka River in the northeast of Bakhmut and one along the Khromove-Bakhmut route just west of Bakhmut. The preemptive destruction of these bridges is likely an indication that Ukrainian troops are trying to hinder Russian movements in eastern Bakhmut and limit potential Russian escape routes from Bakhmut to the west.

Ukrainian President's advisor Oleksandr Rodnyanskyi had already stated on February 28 that Ukrainian forces could withdraw from positions in Bakhmut if necessary. Rodnyanskyi also pointed out that Ukraine has fortified the area west of Bakhmut in a way that even if Ukrainian troops were to withdraw, Russian forces may not be able to quickly take control of the entire city.

If the Ukrainian military leadership deems a withdrawal from Bakhmut necessary, according to Ukrainian statements and reports on Ukrainian actions, they will likely conduct a limited and controlled withdrawal from particularly difficult sectors in the east of Bakhmut. ISW will continue to monitor the situation and provide current assessments of the potential impacts of Russian actions if and when Ukrainian forces begin the withdrawal.

The full Russian Offensive Update 375 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online