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Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 3:14pm On Apr 07, 2023
Akuruoulo:
german killed millions of jews on israel ?
The people you call Israelis today. Where are they from? The real Israelis look like Arabs. They are not white. The Netanyahu of this world is white.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op):
Hotice085:
You come from a generation of Agberos since God made Adam
The Ukrainians are no match for the Russians. Despite the billions worth of equipments given to them by the West. They still can not beat the Russians in a street fight (man-to-man/one-on-one). The Russians are pushing Ukrainians out of Bakhmut by engaging them in close combat. Liberating buildings after buildings. The same Russians the West claim are not well equipped or won't survive the winter.

The same thing happened in Kherson. The Ukrainians engaged the Russians in a massive counter-attack once, lost a lots of troops and equipments. Then they stopped. The Russians waited for Ukraine to attack massively again, but this never happened. But Russia has to retreat due to logistical problem. The Crimea bridge & the bridge linking East Kherson to West Kherson were not operational at a time. They had issues getting resupplies. When the Russians reported they were leaving eastern part of Kherson, the Ukrainians call it a trap. This is because of the losses they experienced when they carried out massive counter-attack.

Ukraine success in Kharkiv were simply due to insufficient troops on the Russian side. About 40k Ukrainian troops against 5-10k Russian troops.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m):
Regex:
Them don see country weh them go fit win.
Israel has a powerful military no doubt. She can harass most of the countries in the middle east with her air force.

Hezbollah is one of (if not) the most power militant group in the world. Despite this, they are no match for Israelis ground forces.

But the problem is, most of these militant groups (especially Hezbollah) are very good in ground offensive or defensive operation. Hezbollah fought against (&defeated) the other militant group armed and funded by the US in Syria. So they have sufficient combat experience. Again, most of the cities in Lebanon are developed. Israelis forces engaging Hezbollah in an urban area will likely be a disaster for Israel. Air strike won't give you victory in an urban area combat. It has to be man-to-man engagement.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 3:31am On Apr 07, 2023
Vl3ly:
why den no carry tanks enter Lebanon, make the history repeats itself
The invasion of Lebanon was a complete failure. They went in to destroy Hezbollah, but when Israelis forces losses started to mount. They retreated.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 7:57pm On Apr 06, 2023
okeysoninv:
tell your ottoman to vacate the land of Israel, ottoman came to challenge sovereignty of children of God. God's judgement will continue to be on Philistines, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and all the rest of your satanic Islamic world till the Christ reign supreme on the Jerusalem.
Germany alone killed millions of Jews. Has your God punished German? Has the Palestine killed up to 1 million?

Baba! It is just common sense. Don't you get it?
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 7:35pm On Apr 06, 2023
okeysoninv:
Israel is established forever , according to order of Almighty God. Arab and islamists are fighting a lost Battle.
If you believe your god support killing of innocent civilians, intimidating/oppressing a group of people that has no military (Palestine does not have a single MRAP not to talk of Tank) and occupation of land illegal. Then good luck to you & your god

The God I serve is not a killer. Do you really know your God?
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 4:17pm On Apr 06, 2023
Uprightness100:
Northern israel - fires at a rocket landing site
Israel has carried out unlimited air strike on Syria to halt the transfer of rockets and missiles to Hezbollah from Iran. This is an impossible task. You can't stop Hezbollah from getting weapon from Iran by simply carrying out air strikes. It is not going to work.

For those who said Iran has never attacked Israel. Let it be known that the rockets that Hezbollah is firing into Israel are made in Iran.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 4:11pm On Apr 06, 2023
Righteousness2:
A coordinated and timed attack on the northern border with a barrage of dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon into the Western and Upper Galilee

Dramatic escalation, this is what the beginning of the war looks like!
I don't think Israel will launch a ground offensive against the Hezbollah.

The last time they tried it. They lost a lost of soldiers and equipments in Lebanon.

Israel will likely carry out few air strikes.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 7:30pm On Mar 29, 2023
Akuruoulo:
they are running to the u.s more than every their neighbouring russia.

i knw already that u are...

i dnt expect u to see the truth.


i hate the united states more than urself, bt i can't be dead in the head.
US is opened to everybody and it is working for them. They run visa lottery in several countries. There are different race in the US military. Obama a black man became the president of the US. It will be difficult for an Asian or African to become the President of most of countries in europe.

The Russians are not like that. It takes the grace of God for someone to get Russian passport. Every country can not be the same.

Nobody disputes the US openess to different people from different part of the world and their contribution to human growth in tech, medicine e.t.c.

People are just tired of the US negative actions.The US is responsible for the death and displacement of milions of people in different part of the world and she is not ready stop committing these crimes.

People are supporting Russia not because they want to live in Russia. They believe that a multi-polar world will limit the ability of the US to commit more crime. Example is Syria. If not for Russian intervention, Syria would have become a failed state like Iraq and Libya.
Foreign AffairsRe: Iran Is One Country That Doesn't Fear Any Country by olugabbie(m): 9:21am On Mar 26, 2023
pol23:
People come here to defend Russia.
People also come here to defend NATO and USA.
We all have different opinion, but I can easily relate with anyone that supports Russia, simply because Russia associate with the oppressed.
USA is the oppressor and invader in the real sense…
That being said.
It will amaze you to know that Iran has an economy of approximately $2T , It’s rank as 11th in the world.
Iran Economy is Bigger than that of Poland, Belgium and Norway combined.
That’s what self reliance can achieve.
When you know there’s no international community to help you… you just have to help yourselves.
Good job!
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia To Deploy Tactical Nukes In Belarus.... by olugabbie(m):
CXLVII:
It’s true! We have corrupt politicians, they have oligarchs. We even have freedom of speech, which they don’t have. It’s a very corrupt and poverty stricken nation. Minimum wage is low as fvck and Prato all y nothin happens there outside vodka
Oligarchs are in the West too. The main reason why the US will never stop issuing license (Gun ownership license) to citizens is because of the oligarchs in the US. They are the most powerful people in the United State.

But mind you. Most of the individuals the West call oligarchs who are Russian citizens are business owners. The West is stealing the funds and properties of these rich Russian guys. If you don't believe me. Kindly name the court in EU or UK that actually labelled these people as criminals before their funds and properties were seized (stolen)?

The EU and US also seized Russian foreign reserve. These funds belong to ordinary Russians not Putin. The funds are supposed to be used for import and export of goods. Are ordinary Russians oligarchs too? We need to be smart. We need to start thinking independently. BBC, CNN,RT News, TASS, Spunik, Fox News, DW, France24,Press TV, CNTV, Arise TV e.t.c should not be doing the thinking for us.

Russians protested, which is normal. Everyone can not support government action. Name one person that was shot or killed. Remember end SARS. There is riot going on in France now. Imagine if this is happening in Russia.

A wise man said, 'believe nothing, even if I have said it. Unless it conforms with your own reasoning'. The West that you are following blindly are breaking their own rules and you don't see anything bad in it. They told us in Africa not to use coal no matter what. But now they are using coal because of lack of Russian gas. They are stealing Russians funds and properties without court proceedings. They accused/punished Russia for the event in Bucha without any investigation (jungle justice). I can go on and on.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia To Deploy Tactical Nukes In Belarus.... by olugabbie(m): 6:22am On Mar 26, 2023
CXLVII:
Russia is just a Nigeria in Europe that happens to have snow
Lol! You are a comedian.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia To Deploy Tactical Nukes In Belarus.... by olugabbie(m):
CXLVII:
Russians need toilets in their houses and he is busy deploying tactical nukes!

Instead of Putin to focus on developing the shithole he calls a country, he is busy fighting inconsequential wars!

Big for nothing nation, that a small Germany even has a bigger economy that the entirety of Russia!

Nothing happens in Russia outside vodka!
Lol! This is pure hatred. Russia is nothing like any African country. It is a developed country. You can ask Nigerians living there. I have a friend in St Petersburg. It is not different from the rest of Europe.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m): 9:39am On Mar 25, 2023
Regex:
I mean the person you quoted doesn't understand what your last paragraph means.
Ok
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m): 8:51am On Mar 25, 2023
Regex:
He knows not your last paragraph.
In your own assessment you think the long table will prevent Putin from being killed. This must be a joke. Any leader can be killed.

If Putin get removed by the military. The West will sit right immediately.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m):
Hotice085:
.


Say something more reasonable, the West wants him as a criminal and he claims to be World power let him dare the west na?

Besides the MAD man does not trust his general because they can grab power at any given opportunity
Imagine a president using a 20feet table to have meetings with his aids, what a fear ridding leader
Where and when did Putin claim, he is a world power? Or name one Russian citizen that call Russia a world power? Countries don't call themselves super powers. They are recognised by other countries as world powers. Imagine Kim calling North Korea a super power.

What do you think will happen if the military in Russia take power? Just think about it for a second. Putin may be MAD according to you. But the individuals in Russian military are MADDER.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m): 9:21pm On Mar 24, 2023
Hotice085:
I thought he gots balls, let him fly to Serbia India Brazil Cuba mexico or south Africa if America won't arrest him like a common criminal
Normally Russian leader don't travel. Can you tell me how many countries he travelled to before the war?
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 8:23pm On Mar 24, 2023
Akuruoulo:
Russians and chinese running to USA where putardic urchins said is de demons home.



Citizens of this nations are running to USA in real life while urchins are here disgracing their hood
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m):
Akuruoulo:
Russians and chinese running to USA where putardic urchins said is de demons home.



Citizens of this nations are running to USA in real life while urchins are here disgracing their hood
You are right. But if you subtract 1 billion from China's population, the remaining figure is still higher than the entire US population.
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m): 6:34pm On Mar 24, 2023
Hotice085:
He is a coward, so that lady in charge of the program that was doing interview with him and he asked her that she also adopted some of the children which she said yes happily and was very grateful to him POOtin so you mean to tell us that the stolen Ukrainian children she adopted, she will return them ehn?

She adopted them so as to return them abi?

POOtin and the woman will face ICC no escaping of it
The question is how will Putin face ICC. Will he be kidnapped?
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia Now Returning Ukrainian Children After Putin Is Declared Wanted by olugabbie(m): 9:40pm On Mar 23, 2023
Flier:
For those of you who said declaring Putin wanted is useless,why is he suddenly returning Ukrainian children? Please answer in 50 words
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/ukraine-children-held-by-russia-reunited-with-parents/
The children will be returned to Donbas not Ukraine. They were taken from Donbas and they will be returned to the same Donbas after the war.

Read to understand, so that you can pass accurate information to other people and not mislead people.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 9:32pm On Mar 23, 2023
Hotice085:
Continue barking like Bingo dog 🐶 but if them born that mad man of Europe make him entre any NATO airspace e go die like fowl
Russia is not interested in fighting NATO. She invaded Ukraine not US or any NATO state. It is Russia and Ukraine business only. It has absolutely nothing to do with NATO or the US. If you want to dare any country to cross the line. Dare NATO to do so. They want to destroy Russia not other way round. The West has destroyed so many countries and they are responsible for death of millions around the world. They commited atrocities unchallenged.

All Russia wants is security guaranty and respect. No super power will stay calm when it enemy/enemies are trying to surround it territory. It weaken country's political, economic and military power. Imagine if all the countries bordering Russia joins NATO and they all decide to deny Russia their air space, because Russia ban LGBTQ. Or the US install it nuclear weapon in all the countries bordering Russia. The US will never allow the nonsense they are throwing at Russia.

Everything Russia is doing today, has been done by the US. Infact there no war the West has fought without targeting civilians & civilian infrastructure. There is no country that is capable of winning a war without target civilians. It is impossible to fight a war without killing civilians.

The Russians are not fools. They are not just sending soldiers to their grave in Ukraine for nothing. They choose to fight on, because their survival depends on it.

I don't know why people can see it. Have you ever taken just one minute to think about the Russian side of the story. Putin choose to fight despite the threat of the heavy sanctions. He knew the sanctions could destroy it country. But he choose survival (secured future & security guaranty) over economic growth. If Russian security is guaranteed today, her economy can be rebuilt.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 6:25pm On Mar 23, 2023
Putin is untouchable. He is not some African leader that can be arrested and nothing will happen.

The ICC or the West are not interested in arresting Putin. Because they know that it is impossible. They just want to embarrass/disgrace Putin and Russians in general. In the next two-three weeks the world will forget about the arrest warrant.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 9:11pm On Mar 22, 2023
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment

Russian forces made marginal gains in and around Bakhmut amid a reported increase in the tempo of Russian operations around Avdiivka. Russian forces likely made additional gains in southwestern and northern Bakhmut as well as northwest of Bakhmut between Bohdanivka and Khromove as of March 20. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on March 19 that Russian troops attacked toward Berdychi (10km northwest of Avdiivka), which indicates that Russian forces likely advanced west of Krasnohorivka (9km north of Avdiivka) and captured Stepove (just west of Krasnohorivka). Russian forces are likely increasing the tempo of operations north of Avdiivka in an effort to set conditions for the encirclement of the settlement and are reportedly employing a greater number of aviation units in the area to support these operations. Avdiivka Mayor Vitaly Barabash told AFP News on March 20 that Russian forces are increasingly using Kh-59, Kh-101, Kh-555, and S-300 missiles in the Avdiivka area. A Ukrainian military spokesperson stated on March 20 that Russian forces have lost about three unspecified companies (likely referring to infantry) in assaults on Avdiivka since March 19. ISW previously reported that this increased tempo of Russian operations in the Avdiivka area has reportedly led to major losses and is likely a misguided effort to pull Ukrainian forces away from other areas of the front. ISW has not observed Russian forces arraying substantial combat power along the outskirts of Donetsk City, and it is unlikely that Russian forces will be able to sustain this temporary increased tempo. ISW assesses that the overall Russian spring offensive is likely approaching culmination, and Russian forces may be intensifying efforts to make even marginal gains before they lose the initiative in Ukraine. It remains possible that Russian advances could prompt Ukraine to withdraw from Bakhmut and/or Avdiivka although neither appears likely at this time.

Source:ISW
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 8:08pm On Mar 20, 2023
Uprightness100:
The UN report of world's happiest countries. Israel is no.4 !
UN!!!

"Dey play"
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 7:52pm On Mar 20, 2023
According to Wagner boss, Russia now controls 70% of Bakhmut. He also said Wagner fighters are bracing up for Ukrainian counter attack in the city in late March or early April.
Foreign AffairsRe: World News! Events Happening Around The World by olugabbie(m): 6:05am On Mar 20, 2023
Israelis leaders are the most foolish people on earth. No one is winning this war. You kill them , they kill you.

Why not seek for peace and stop occupying more territory. A Palestinian kill one or more Israelis. You send convoy of vehicles filled with soldiers to kill that person.

These people don't have any military and they still manage to kill your citizens on a monthly basis. Israel should prioritise saving the lives of it citizen. It can not be achieved by force. But through peace, because the Palestinians will never back down. As long as you continue to occupy more of their land, they will always fight back

Who is winning?
Foreign AffairsRe: Russia-Ukraine War: World News, Weapons & Battlefield Discussions - Live by olugabbie(m):
WritterNig:
🚨 Emergency crews are at the scene of a BSNF train derailment that caused 5,000 gallons of diesel to spill in 🇺🇸 Anacortes, Washington.
This kind of event can not happen in China or Russia because they pay attention to infrastructure in their countries. The US has completely neglected infrastructure. She only pay attention to her military.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 6:38pm On Mar 15, 2023
WAGNER TOOK FULL CONTROL OF THE AZOM PLANT: YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN

In the northern part of Bakhmut, the fighting is raging in the industrial zone, including on the premises of Artemivsk Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant (AZOM), according to the CIT’s report.

The fight for AZOM may soon resemble the siege of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the last Ukrainian stronghold of now fully occupied Mariupol since Bakhmut’s industrial zone is home to many underground fortifications and tunnels, the CIT said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, who leads the Wagner mercenary group fighting alongside the Russian forces in Ukraine, claimed on March 14 that his troops took “full control” of the AZOM plant.

Prigozhin further claimed in his Telegram post that the fighting still raged in surrounding territories.

Neither the Ukrainian nor Russian authorities commented on the situation at the AZOM plant or reacted to Prigozhin’s claims.

Northwest of Bakhmut, the Russian forces are trying to capture more territories as they launch attacks on the villages of Mynkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and Hryhorivka, according to the CIT.

It added that the fighting raged on the northwestern outskirts of Bakhmut.

SOURCE: Kyiv Independent
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 2:34am On Mar 15, 2023
Like I have mentioned, artillery shells kill more soldiers than any other weapon in this war. The above report from Ukraine source claims 90% of the Ukrainian casualties caused by artillery fire.

They also claimed that they don't have enough amunition and enough artillery to return fire. How does this now correspond to the claimed ratio of Russian casualties to the Ukrainians? Ukraine military claims it is ratio 7:1 in favour of Ukraine and Western media claims it is ratio 5:1 in favour of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are outgunned and outnumbered. It is impossible for them to inflict more casualties of enemy than the enemy is doing to them. Bakhmut is a meat grinder for the Ukrainians not Russia.
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 2:25am On Mar 15, 2023
BLOODY WARFARE IN BAKHMUT

While Russian casualties on the Bakhmut front are assumed to be very high, Ukraine is also taking heavy losses as it holds on to the city, soldiers' testimonies reveal. NATO intelligence estimates that at least five Russian soldiers were killed for every Ukrainian loss, CNN reported on March 6, citing an unnamed official with the alliance.

Valeriy, a Ukrainian infantryman, says that most of his fallen comrades were fatally wounded by projectile fragments.

"It's a pity that probably 90% of our losses are from artillery – or tanks and aviation," Valeriy told the Kyiv Independent a few hours after leaving the Bakhmut front. "And much less (casualties) from shooting battles."

Valeriy counted that "only a few" of the original 27 members of his platoon got out of the Bakhmut front with him, though he explained that most of them were wounded, not killed.

"The Russians have so many weapons, and there are so many of them," Valeriy said. "They are firing at us all the time. Sometimes, you hear an incoming every second."

Russian forces have intensified their assault on Bakhmut since mid-January after capturing the nearby salt-mining town of Soledar, which sits some 15 kilometers northeast of Bakhmut.

Infantryman Vladyslav from the 58th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade says many soldiers in his platoon have refused to go to Bakhmut as Russians came closer.

Multiple soldiers from other brigades also said they’ve encountered many "refusers" who did everything not to be deployed back to Bakhmut.

During the last rotation in late February, Vladyslav said that only eight out of 25 soldiers in his platoon headed out to Bakhmut – and the rest said they couldn't go because of sudden fever or body pain.

The eight then headed to a position at a crossroad near the Bakhmutka River, where destroyed houses lined up. The platoon came under heavy Russian mortar fire as soon as they arrived.

Two were killed, and two were severely wounded – one soldier lost his arm, and the other was hit in the stomach by a projectile, Vladyslav said. The rest, including Vladyslav himself, received a severe concussion.

They were all evacuated from Bakhmut that day and lost the position.

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in and around Bakhmut told the Kyiv Independent that Russia's tactics are potent. They locate Ukrainian positions, use mass fire to kill as many as possible, then move forward with infantry, usually also witnessing heavy losses.

Infantryman Vladyslav said that the Russians would usually appear in a group of about five people at night, but they seemed "scared" to launch close-range attacks.

So instead, the Russians would use mass firepower to destroy the houses – where the Ukrainians hid to monitor invading forces – to the point that they were forced to abandon the position to seek another position with better protection, according to Vladyslav.

"They are (now) fighting smartly, too," Vladyslav said.

Some soldiers deployed in Bakhmut said the Russians split into small assault groups of about ten people and launch waves of nearly suicidal attacks. They say that Wagner mercenaries could have been among them, but it was difficult to assess since they all wore similar uniforms.

Maksym, 33, an infantryman from the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, said the Russians also had an established tactic in the southern area near Bakhmut.
The infantryman from Kyiv was deployed on the Ivanivske front, at the southwest outskirts of Bakhmut, throughout February 2023, where fierce fighting rages over a strategic village that sits on one of the key routes into the city.

Relying heavily on drones, the Russians would locate Ukraine's positions in the area. They would then fire multiple rounds of mortar and artillery, which would then be followed by infantry assaults, in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian soldiers, according to Maksym.

If the drones cannot detect Ukrainian positions, the Russians will send a few soldiers to fire gunshots until they hear return fire, according to Maksym.

As brutal as they may be, the Russian tactics have slowly worked and pushed back Maksym's unit by 1.5 kilometers in total throughout February. He said that his unit had to relocate to another position 100-300 meters away every now and then, especially if nearby units began withdrawing and the defense line began to collapse.

According to Maksym, Russia's weapons, such as its Soviet-designed mortars and grenade launchers, might not be accurate, but they are "very effective infantry weapons" when used en masse.

As Russia strives for full-encirclement of Bakhmut by capturing settlements such as Ivanivske, Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure.

SOURCE: Kyiv Independent
Foreign AffairsRe: Update On Bakhmut Front by olugabbie(op): 2:18am On Mar 15, 2023
UKRAINE SOLDIERS WORRY RUSSIANS BEGIN TO 'TASTE VICTORY'

DONETSK OBLAST–Just days before heading back to fight in the Battle of Bakhmut, a Ukrainian soldier Volodymyr, 54, said he felt ill-prepared.

"When they drive us to Bakhmut, I already know I'm being sent to death," Volodymyr told the Kyiv Independent during his brief stay in Kramatorsk, a city in Donetsk Oblast some 25 kilometers west of the front line.

Volodymyr, an infantryman from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, said he struggled to eat after fighting in Bakhmut for months. He looked shaken as he talked.

For two months, Volodymyr's unit was tasked with guarding Bakhmut against small Russian assault groups creeping into the city. The brigade was constantly under mortar fire as soldiers were outdoors where shrapnels could wound or kill them at any moment.

"(The Russians) keep firing at us, but we don't have artillery – so we have nothing to attack them back with," Volodymyr said. "I don't know if I will return or not. We are just getting killed."

Ukrainian infantrymen interviewed by the Kyiv Independent described the fighting in Bakhmut as a desperate survival challenge against Russia's "infinite" stocks of artillery munitions and manpower. With just their machine guns and rifles, they say they braced relentless Russian mortar and artillery attacks until their hideout was eventually destroyed.

Volodymyr is haunted by the thoughts of his comrades killed in Bakhmut. He recalls a 29-year-old comrade whom he found lying dead after shrapnel hit the young man's head at a position.

"I knew he was dead, but I just kept wrapping his head (with bandages)," Volodymyr said.


Volodymyr's story is far from the only harrowing account of what soldiers face as they defend Bakhmut.

Eight months into the Battle for Bakhmut, Ukraine faces growing concern over the need to defend the ruined city, now nearly empty of its 70,000 residents.

Russians have almost encircled Bakhmut and have entered the city. Ukraine has been clinging to Bakhmut at a high price. Withdrawing from it would give the Kremlin its first major victory since July 2022.

Seizing the ruined city has become a symbolic and political objective for the Kremlin after facing humiliating defeats in late 2022 amid Ukraine's successful counteroffensives.

Speaking to the Kyiv Independent in the nearby town of Kostyantynivka in early March, Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr said he was unaware of any plans to withdraw from Bakhmut but acknowledged that the situation is tense "everywhere."

Russians put enormous pressure to "squeeze out" the Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut, Oleksandr said, with the fiercest fighting raging in the northern part of the city. The lack of munitions and equipment, such as armored personnel carriers, makes it hard to hold on to the city, Oleksandr added.

Russian forces outnumber the Ukrainians two to three times on the Bakhmut front, with approximately 20,000 to 30,000 troops fighting in the area, according to Mykola, a staff sergeant from the 28th Mechanized Brigade.

If Russia keeps up its current pace of attacks, "it could be a few weeks, and that's it," Mykola said about the fight for Bakhmut.

"The situation is now very difficult because they have already felt the taste (of victory in Bakhmut)," Mykola said. "And now they know that there is only a little bit left."

Ukraine's military leadership said that a complete withdrawal from Bakhmut is on the table, but such a decision would only be made if necessary.

As Russia throws more Wagner Group mercenaries to fight in Bakhmut, the tension surrounding the city is at an all-time high.

SOURCE: Kyiv Independent

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