ISW assesses Zelenskyy's order to continue holding Bakhmut

This is stated in the daily report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

American analysts point out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 6 that he had ordered to continue defending Bakhmut and send reinforcements to the city. This happened after his meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi and the Commander of the Land Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, who asked for more Ukrainian forces in the area.

"Statements made by Ukrainian officials regarding Bakhmut are likely meant in part to respond to the continued concern expressed by some Americans regarding the costs of Ukraine’s continued defense of Bakhmut. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated on March 6 that he would not view a Ukrainian withdrawal from Bakhmut as a “significant strategic setback,” possibly intimating that he favors such a withdrawal," ISW suggested.

The Institute for the Study of War emphasized that Bakhmut is not intrinsically significant operationally or strategically. The capture of Bakhmut is necessary but not sufficient for further advance of Russian forces in the Donetsk region, and Russian forces have already suffered such heavy losses in the battle for the city that their offensive will likely end after they take it - if not before. Thus, the loss of Bakhmut is not a serious operational or strategic problem for Ukraine, as Secretary Austin and others have noted.

"But Ukraine’s fight for Bakhmut has become strategically significant because of the current composition of Russian forces arrayed in the area. Some Western reports have recently suggested that Ukraine is expending its own elite manpower and scarce equipment on mainly Wagner Group prison recruits who are mere cannon fodder, noting that such an exchange would be to Ukraine’s disadvantage even at high ratios of Russian to Ukrainian losses. That observation is valid in general, although the pool of Russian convict recruits suitable for combat is not limitless and the permanent elimination of tens of thousands of them in Bakhmut means that they will not be available for more important fights," ISW noted.

At the same time, the Institute for the Study of War believes that the Russian forces fighting in Bakhmut now consist of elite elements of the Wagner PMC and airborne units, as well as lower-quality troops. Ukrainian intelligence has supported ISW's assessment that Russian forces near Bakhmut have recently changed tactics and engaged special forces and regular units.

The Russian forces fighting in Bakhmut now consist of elite elements of the Wagner Group and Russian airborne units, as well as lower-skilled troops. Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed ISW's assessment that Russian forces near Bakhmut have recently changed tactics and deployed better-quality special forces and regular units.

• On March 6, it was reported that, according to Bild, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyy had different views on the battle for Bakhmut in Donetsk region.

• Zelenskyy denied disagreements with Zaluzhnyi and said that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Commander of the Land Forces, Syrskyi, were in favor of continuing the defense.