Trying to surround Bakhmut, Wagner soldiers may find themselves surrounded by Ukrainian Armed Forces - military expert Svitan

He expressed this opinion in the program Verdict with Serhiy Rudenko on Espreso TV channel.

"Wagner's PMCs, in pursuit of sensations, have moved far north of Bakhmut. Trying to encircle the Bakhmut garrison, they may get surrounded themselves. Prigozhin also predicts this. He says that he has exposed flanks in the area of the breakthrough in the north of Bakhmut, and the common flanks of the Russian army's offensive are also exposed. The area of Bilohorivka could become a springboard for the Ukrainian army's offensive, which would lead to the cutting off and encirclement of the Popasna group of Wagner's PMC. It is clear that they will not stay in this cauldron and will withdraw," Svitan emphasized.

The military expert also added that Bakhmut has lost its strategic importance for the Russian forces.

"Prigozhin is already warning that he will withdraw, and his retreat will destroy the front line in the north of Donetsk region. This section of the frontline is not very important to the Russian forces because it is not strategic for them. This area lost its strategic importance for Russia after the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Izyum and drove the Russian forces out of the Izyum Cauldron. There is no longer any enemy threat from the north or northeast over Sloviansk. It makes no sense for the Russian army to fight for Bakhmut at all. It was a southern pincer, at least they tried to carry out this operation. As soon as our troops start moving from the area of Bilohorivka towards Lysychansk, the Wagnerian operation will be over," Svitan said.

On March 7, the Institute for the Study of War wrote that the continued holding of Bakhmut is important because of the ability to destroy combat-ready Russian units, but the city in Donetsk region is not critical.

The British Ministry of Defense writes that the Ukrainian military has managed to stabilize the defense perimeter in Bakhmut, but supplies to the city have been hampered by the Russians' blowing up a key bridge.