Summary and Key Points: The Donbas region in eastern Ukraine remains a key battlefield, holding strategic value for both Ukraine and Russia. The Battle for Bakhmut, with over 100,000 Russian casualties, highlights the intense fighting. Ukraine's heavy industry and resources are in Donbas, while Russia seeks a land bridge to Crimea.

-Current battles continue, with both sides experiencing heavy losses. British Military Intelligence reports intense combat in Vovchansk, Chasiv Yar, and Krasnohorivka, with small Ukrainian counterattacks destabilizing Russian advances.

-The Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector remains a focal point, with Russia sustaining high casualties in its grinding approach.

Battle for Bakhmut: Over 100,000 Russian Casualties in Donbas

From the start of the war in Ukraine, the area of the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, has been a key battlefield.

The Battle for Bakhmut, the largest fight of the war so far, with over 100,000 casualties on the Russian side alone, took place in the area.

The area holds strategic value for both countries. One the one hand, much of Ukraine’s heavy industry and resources are in the region. On the other hand, holding the Donbas gives Russia the much-needed land bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula, connecting it with Russia.

A Tour of the Battlefield

But there is fighting ongoing in the east as well.

“In Vovchansk, Kharkiv oblast, fighting is reportedly focused on the Aggregate Plant, where Ukrainian forces are attempting to dislodge Russian forces from this strongpoint in the south-east of the town,” British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate of the war. No one controls the town, and it remains contested.

In the Donbas, the situation around Chasiv Yar remains relatively the same. Over the past few days, the Russian forces haven’t made any advances.

“Combat has reportedly been most intense in Ivanivske and Klishchiivka, to the south of the town. Ukrainian forces have reportedly counterattacked in Klishchiivka making tactical gains,” British Military Intelligence added.

The Ukrainian forces are using small counterattacks to destabilize the Russian offensive efforts in the area.

“In the Kurakhiv direction, west of Donetsk City, Russian forces have made further advances within the town of Krasnohorivka and are now likely in control of most of the town, with Ukrainian forces now only present in the extreme north of the settlement,” British Military Intelligence stated.

Fighting in the Donbas has been going on since 2014, when the pro-Russian insurgents, with the direct and indirect support of the Russian military, launched an insurgency. It is a resource-rich area with much of Ukraine’s heavy industry. So, the strategic stakes of holding the Donbas (and liberating what has been lost) are very high indeed for the Ukrainian forces.

“The Adviivka-Pokrovsk sector remains the probable Russian main effort and continues to see the highest Russian operational tempo. Russian forces have made minor advances across a relatively broad front towards the villages of Niu-York, Pivnichne, and Pivdenne,” British Military Intelligence assessed.

The Russian military has shown an inability to conduct large-scale, maneuver warfare. As such, it is resorting to small-scale tactical actions that come with steep casualties. Although this grinding approach is partially successful, it comes at a very heavy cost. Indeed, the Russian forces are losing over 1,000 men killed, wounded, or captured, as well as scores of tactical vehicles and heavy weapon systems every single day. In May alone, the Kremlin lost almost 40,000 men in the fighting.

“Over the next week, the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector is likely to remain an area of significant operational focus for Russian forces as they attempt to maintain pressure on defending Ukrainian forces, and make opportunistic territorial gains,” the British Military Intelligence concluded.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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