Ukrainians blow up bridge in Bakhmut amid reports Russia closing in

The Guardian ^ | Tue 14 Feb 2023 | Isobel Koshiw

[MinorityRepublican]

Ukrainian forces have reportedly blown up a bridge near the eastern city of Bakhmut, in a sign they may be planning to retreat from the area, which would give Russia a significant, symbolic boost ahead of the first anniversary of the war.

Troops blew up the bridge on Monday, according to a local Donetsk region news site. Ukraine denies it intends to leave Bakhmut, despite six months of heavy fighting and reportedly dwindling stockpiles.

It appears the Kremlin is concentrating maximum force on capturing Bakhmut before the one-year anniversary of the invasion on 24 February. Ukraine and its western allies have said over the past week that Russia had already begun a new offensive across the contact line in an attempt to gain ground before new western supplies arrived in the spring.

“It is clear that we are in a race of logistics,” Jens Stoltenberg, head of Nato, told reporters in Brussels on Monday.

Late on Tuesday Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, described the situation on the frontline as “extremely difficult”, especially in Donetsk and Luhansk.

“It is literally a battle for every metre of Ukrainian land,” Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation.

A Russian victory in Bakhmut would give the Kremlin a boost after months of setbacks and would be a stepping stone to fight for the two next big Ukrainian-controlled cities.

[adorno]

Russia has not been a Communist country for decades.

Then, what kind of economy do they have. Are people free to think and do as they wish? Can they move freely with nobody in government tracking or control?

[Rlsau1]

Russia is an oligarchy, just like the USA.

[adorno]

Russia is an oligarchy, just like the USA.

And, they have freedom of speech; people can talk back to the government with no repercussions, they can gather and hold protests with no repercussions; they can give the middle finger to Putin and get away with it. People can more freely, in and out of the country.

People can be assured that there will be no search of their homes without a search warrant.

Why don't you lay out all of the freedoms afforded American citizens vs Russian citizens. If no difference, say so.

[Cronos]

how exactly is “It is literally a battle for every metre of Ukrainian land,” a lie?

[Cronos]

Jumper on 15th February 2023
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4131068/posts?page=49#49
“Ukraine is about taste defeat after defeat. Six weeks from now Ukraine will lose approximately 40 - 70,000 casualties.; Russia may suffer 2x but Ukraine will also see their Polish boarder sealed by troops from Belarus.

6 weeks after 15th February was 30th March.

you were again wrong