Kharkiv scenario is possible - Ukrainian lieutenant on Zelenskyy's statement on Bakhmut's liberation

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV. 

Polyakov commented on President Zelenskyy's statement that Ukraine would return Bakhmut by the end of the year.

"I do not exclude that a Kharkiv scenario is possible in Bakhmut. Remember the Kharkiv operation, when a counteroffensive to the Kherson region was announced and the invading Russian forces brought a significant number of troops from Donbas there, including the Kharkiv region. At that time, the frontlines were empty and our troops liberated a significant part of the Kharkiv region. We are witnessing something similar here," Polyakov noted.

He emphasized that the Russian troops have now created a "shock fist" in Avdiivka.

"In Avdiivka, they assembled a fist of force at the expense of about half of their units. That is, they took their paratroopers from here and moved some troops from the Kharkiv direction to Bakhmut. Therefore, I do not rule out that this is possible, the General Staff and the Main Intelligence Directorate have plans, but it is difficult to make predictions," Polyakov added.

• Earlier, during a visit to the United States, Zelenskyy predicted that Ukrainian troops would "de-occupy Bakhmut and two other cities" captured by Russia.

• On October 18, Andriy Babychev, a soldier with the 93rd Brigade from the Bakhmut direction, noted that the Russian forces would have to withdraw from Kurdiumivka.