Moscow set another deadline for the occupation of Bakhmut - May 9. And then, according to one of the versions, the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin can announce the end of the war on this "victorious note": they say, "all his goals have been fulfilled, the Ukrainian army has been defeated."
This is stated in the article of RBC-Ukraine "Three scenarios of war. Why the offensive of Ukraine can become a turning point".
As the interlocutors of the publication admit, there is a certain logic in this. The fact is that it is not a fact that, having taken Bakhmut, the Russians will be able to physically continue the offensive. After grueling battles for the Severodonetsk agglomeration last summer, the enemy's advance stalled for months. Further, after the Ukrainian offensive, Russia will only begin to lose the occupied territories. That is, on the part of Moscow, the "end of the war" will be an attempt to fix what they took away.
If Russia declares the end of the war before the offensive of the armed forces, there is a risk that world leaders will convince Kyiv to start negotiations instead of a military operation. Moreover, the number of politicians who advocate peace is not in the interests of Ukraine is increasing.
If the Kremlin declares that it is ending the war and wants negotiations, the circle of "peacemakers" will only expand. That is why the task of Ukraine is to maintain the defense of Bakhmut and not give Moscow at least some kind of "victory" at least until the start of our offensive.
As reported, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky said that the enemy is throwing new "Wagner" assault groups, soldiers of other private companies, and paratroopers into battle. However, they do not manage to take Bakhmut, and in some areas of the Armed Forces successfully counterattack.
We will remind, earlier the speaker of the National Guard, Ruslan Muzychuk, said that the battles on some areas of the front in the east of Ukraine are taking place at minimal distances. It is about 100, and in some cases about 50 meters.
