He expressed this opinion in the Verdict with Serhiy Rudenko program on Espreso TV channel.
"They cannot take Bakhmut, they are trying to bypass it, but this does not mean that they will succeed. They are trying to bypass the city from the north, holding our troops along the natural defense lines - the Bakhmutka River, where Soledar begins. This point in the area of Soledar is still under the control of Ukrainian troops. This direction is held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine," noted Svitan.
The military expert also added that one of the highways that feeds the city from Kostyantynivka is located near Bakhmut. The Russian forces are trying to reach this highway and cut it, but the enemy was stopped near Klishchiyivka.
"Ukrainian troops will have no problems in the near future, at least for a month. The directions are predictable, where the enemy can launch an offensive with manpower. These directions are clear - from the south, from Huliaypole and Vuhledar, the Russian forces may try to move towards Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, or from the north to crush our grouping in the area of Kupiansk and Svatove. The enemy will not be able to accomplish any more combat missions with the forces and means available to them," emphasized Svitan.