In the Bakhmut sector, Russia has switched to scorched earth tactics and is destroying buildings and positions with air and artillery strikes, the Commander of the Eastern Group of Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyy, has said after visiting the hottest spots of the frontline.
He made operational decisions and set tasks, listened to the commanders of groups and units on defence and problematic issues. Syrskyy also met the personnel of the Ground Forces, Air Assault and Territorial Defence brigades, who are heroically resisting the Russian offensive in the Bakhmut sector, the Ministry of Defence reported on Telegram, citing the Military Media Centre.
"Our courageous soldiers have exhausted Wagner PMC members with their actions, so the enemy is now forced to engage special forces and air assault units in the battle for Bakhmut. The fighting is fierce on both sides. The enemy has switched to the so-called 'Syrian' scorched earth tactics. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire. The defence of Bakhmut continues. The situation is difficult but under control," he said.
The spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces, Serhiy Cherevatyy, said that Russia had deployed its professional paratroopers to Bakhmut because of heavy Wagner losses. Cherevatyy added that Russian paratrooper units sent to Bakhmut had already suffered losses.