Bakhmut and Soledar Continue To Hold, Contrary To Expectations - Again

As usual, early reports of Ukrainian difficulties tend to be exaggerated by Russian bloggers, whose reports are picked up by sympathetic western media. 

Both Bakhmut and its northern suburb of Soledar are holding, even as Russia again doubles down on fruitless assaults that only deplete its human and ammunition resources. JL 

Daily Kos reports:

Even Russian sources have backed off claims of broken Ukrainian lines in the key suburb northeast of Bakhmut. Soledar has its salt mine. Like the Azovastal steel factory in Mariupol, the salt mine has a network of underground facilities that facilitate the storage of armaments, the ability of Ukrainian defenders to barricade themselves, and to move around under potential Russian occupiers. It helps that Russia has apparently run out of armor, and is relegated to sending out small squads of cannon fodder, in broad daylight, to advance on Ukrainian defensive positions without any artillery or air support.

By all indications, the situation in Soledar is difficult but under control. Even Russian sources have backed off claims of broken Ukrainian lines in the key suburb northeast of Bakhmut. 

We’ve seen large industrial facilities serve as key strongholds throughout this entire war, from Mariupol, to Severodonetsk, to the industrial zone in Bakhmut. Soledar has its salt mine. Like the Azovastal steel factory in Mariupol, the salt mine has a network of underground facilities (Wagner’s chief called it an “underground city”) that facilitate the storage of armaments, the ability of Ukrainian defenders to both barricade themselves, and their ability to move around under potential Russian occupiers. 

Russian sources claimed control of the salt mine at some point, but later admitted they didn’t have it. Those claims are not mutually exclusive.

Remember, Ukraine engages in what’s called “flexible defense.” I described it as such, discussing their defense of Bakhmut:

So Ukraine holds the trash dump, but retreats as Russia rains artillery on the location. Russia’s Wagner mercenaries push into the dump and declare victory. They celebrate on Telegram and TikTok as the Ukrainian side despairs. Things are tough, and tenuous, and Russia is advancing, Bakhmut is in danger! Oh no, even the “wine factory” is in Russia’s hands!

In reality, those Wagnerites at the vanguard are now exposed, facing Ukrainian concealed defensive positions, as a wall of Ukrainian artillery hinders both the advance and the ability to resupply those troops.

It’s a lot harder to kill Russians in their trenches; best to let them come out, expose themselves, and hit them out in the open. That means the lines of control ebb and flow, like the tides, creating a no-man’s land “gray zone” between each respective side’s main defensive positions. Here’s another look at the tactic:

[Ukraine] Holding the first line of trenches (the ‘trip line’ as it was known in German terminology) at all costs is avoided. This leads ‘to artillery damage and significant losses for the defenders.’ Instead, ‘Defensive units should be able to withdraw to reserve positions, and surveillance should be strengthened on attack routes. And then even if someone [enemy] manages to advance under fire to an advanced position,  there will be losses… positions from the flanks must be able to cut off the approach of significant enemy forces, and the situation can be restored by a counter-attack of the tactical reserve with armoured vehicles.’

‘It makes no sense to hold a position until the last while the enemy bombards it, and constantly replace people in this position, because the “Wagnerians” will not run out, their goal is to impose an exchange on us.’

It helps that Russia has apparently run out of armor, and is relegated to sending out small squads of cannon fodder, in broad daylight, to advance on Ukrainian defensive positions without any artillery or air support. 

I wonder if Russia appreciates the irony: They began the war with a wealth of equipment, but lacking manpower. Now, they are flush with soldiers from their mobilization, but no longer have armor or artillery to support them. Ukrainian intelligence claims Russia is about to announce a general mobilization, which would grant Russia another 500,000 lives for the wood chipper. 

War criminal and Russian nationalist war critic Igor Girkin remains unimpressed at the Russian focus on Bakhmut and Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin’s excuses for their failure to take the city.

Prigozhin spoke about the "network of underground cities" with tanks in Bakhmut

And at the beginning of the assault, presumably, the presence of such mines was unknown? Or did the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces specifically choose the most fortified of all positions in order to "wipe the nose" of General Erich von Falkenhayn, who failed to take Verdun in 1916? 

Girkin also says what I’ve been saying for months—that Bakhmut has no strategic value anyway. 

[T]he capture of the Bakhmut-Soledar agglomeration is very far away. "Battle of attrition" (mutual) can continue for more than one month. And even if our troops win a tactical victory in it, then strategically - we have already lost, once again throwing the best forces and means "on an unusable object."

Russia does seem to have accomplished one thing—forcing Ukraine to reinforce the city and its surrounding defensive strongholds. While we may yet see a surprise counteroffensive this winter, especially now that it’s finally cold enough for the ground to freeze, there are growing indications that Ukraine might prefer to wait a few months. Not only will Ukraine have shiny new armor to use for any spring offensive, but Russia’s challenges in supplying its artillery guns with ammunition (“shell hunger”) will only worsen in the months ahead. Why risk Ukrainian lives in under-armored attacks with Leopards (likely) and Bradleys on the way? Ukraine could spend this waiting time degrading Russian logistics, equipment, command and control, and manpower—all of which would make a spring offensive even more likely to succeed. 

Or, perhaps Ukraine can use armor it has kept in reserve now, knowing it will be backfilled with new Western deliveries in the coming months. And maybe all the new chatter about a “spring offensive” is misdirection, to keep Russia guessing. It’s bitterly cold in those trenches, HIMARS and tube artillery are working, and Russia still hasn’t fixed its logistics. If Ukraine has the juice, this is as good a time as any to make a move.