Russia may transfer main offensive forces from Bakhmut to Soledar

This was reported by The Wall Street Journal with reference to Ukrainian commanders and British intelligence.

It is noted that amid strong resistance of the Ukrainian defenders, the Russian Federation began to shift its main offensive forces from near Bakhmut closer to Soledar. The publication adds that the fighting has been going on for a long time there, but the very fact of the transfer of soldiers may indicate that the AFU forced the Russian troops to quickly change their tactics.

According to representatives of the Ukrainian command, the Russian troops may have decided to 'test' the Ukrainian defenses around Soledar and, if possible, win at least there.

The WSJ writes that the battles for Bakhmut have been going on for six months and Western experts are surprised by the tenacity with which Russia wants to capture this city, since “it does not have great strategic importance.” At the same time, the occupation of the city has a great psychological significance for the Russian Federation after a series of failures on the battlefield for the Wagner Group and for General Sergey Surovikin.