Russia is in decisive phase of exhausting its capabilities in Donetsk region - military expert Zgurets

Serhiy Zgurets, military expert and Defense Express CEO, shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

He noted that Russia has been advancing 40 km to Bakhmut for 9 months. The average is 4 km per month. Russian forces have exhausted their offensive potential and cannot capture the city because of the dense defense.

"If we are talking about Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, there is still at least 20 km of defense line, defended in the same way. I think to say that the enemy has the potential to advance further after capturing Bakhmut is to overestimate Russia's capabilities at this stage. I think that all the enemy's efforts in the 5 directions of the first phase of the offensive in Donbas, which began on February 8, are now in a decisive phase in terms of exhausting the capabilities of Russian forces," emphasized Zgurets.

The expert added that Bakhmut is important for deterring and restraining Russian troops, but Russia has no potential to advance a significant distance beyond the city.

• On March 8, ISW reported that in the event of Russia’s hypothetical capture of Bakhmut, the battle-weary Russian troops in Donetsk region would have to choose between an offensive on Kostiantynivka or Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.