Ukrainian forces are probably creating conditions for a controlled withdrawal from combat positions in the Bakhmut part of the Donetsk region.
This was reported by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Geolocation footage published on March 3 confirms that Ukrainian troops destroyed two important bridges in the Bakhmut region — one over the Bakhmutivka River in the northeast of Bakhmut and one on the Khromovo-Bakhmut highway west of Bakhmut.
"Precautionary destruction of the bridges probably indicates that the Ukrainian troops may try to prevent the movement of Russians in the eastern part of Bakhmut and limit the potential ways of advancing Russians from Bakhmut to the west," the report says.
Experts also believe that the Ukrainian military intends to cut off the enemy's potential retreat routes by blowing up these bridges.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks on Bakhmut itself, as well as in the area of Vasyukivka (13 km north of the city), near Dubovo-Vasylivka (6 km to the northwest), Orihovo-Vasylivka (10 km north of city), Hryhorivka (10 km to the northwest) and Bohdanivka (8 km to the northwest).
At the same time, presidential adviser Oleksandr Rodnyanskyi stated on February 28 that Ukrainian forces can retreat from their positions in Bakhmut if necessary, ISW reminds.
Rodnyanskyi also added that Ukraine has fortified the area west of Bakhmut in such a way that even if Ukrainian troops begin to withdraw, Russian forces will not necessarily be able to quickly take the entire city.
"If the Ukrainian military command finds it necessary to withdraw from Bakhmut, it will probably conduct a limited and controlled withdrawal from particularly difficult areas of eastern Bakhmut, judging by Ukrainian statements and reports on the actions of the Ukrainian side," the post states.
Therefore, analysts believe that if the Ukrainian military command considers it necessary to withdraw from Bakhmut, it will probably conduct a limited and controlled withdrawal from particularly difficult areas of eastern Bakhmut, judging by Ukrainian statements and reports on the actions of the Ukrainian side.
