"Front line will stabilize along Bahatyr and Kostiantynopil": Military expert on Kurakhove direction

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"Our forces and resources should have been pulled from the remnants of the Kurakhove bridgehead long ago. Our soldiers — especially the paratroopers from the 79th Brigade — achieved the impossible under brutal conditions, holding the line despite being effectively encircled. Even after we lost control of Kurakhove and the fighting shifted toward Dachne, the enemy (Russian forces - ed.) diverted some forces elsewhere, but the pressure here remained intense. Considering the M-15 road, which was crucial for supplying our defenders — especially those west of Dachne, near Kostiantynopil — was under enemy fire, stable and uninterrupted logistics became impossible. That affected not just the supply of weapons, equipment, and ammunition, but also the evacuation of the wounded and troop rotations. It’s hard to frame this in a positive light," he said.

Vladyslav Selezniov emphasized that Ukrainian defenders held their lines under extreme conditions for a long time.

"In the end, what had to happen did: we lost control of Ulakly, and in Andriivka, the enemy now dominates, advancing into the southern outskirts — specifically south of Kostiantynopil. This is the result of the enemy's overwhelming advantage in resources, which they’ve used effectively to keep up constant pressure. What’s next? In the near future, the frontline in this sector will likely stabilize around the settlements of Bahatyr and Kostiantynopil. With the battle line consolidated elsewhere, the enemy will be able to shift some forces," he said.

The military expert stressed the need to evaluate decisions made at the Kurakhove bridgehead.

"We need to assess our actions — whether they were the right ones. Looking back, it’s clear that before the battles at the Kurakhove bridgehead, we had already lost control of Vuhledar. What led to that? What decisions — or failures to act — caused us to lose such a strategically vital area? This deserves serious analysis to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Because we can fight. What’s happening in Pokrovsk proves it. The enemy keeps trying to advance but suffers massive losses without making real territorial gains. Why we failed to hold Vuhledar back then and ultimately lost Kurakhove is a separate question that needs to be studied," Selezniov added.

• On February 19, reports confirmed that Russian forces had made significant advances near Andriivka in the Donetsk region.