Changes

==Winter campaign - the Bakhmut meatgrinder==

==Winter campaign - the Bakhmut meatgrinder==

[[File:Donbas 12-2-22.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Disposition of NATO/Ukraine artillery (in blue), December 2, 2022.]]

[[File:Bakhmut bridge.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Brisge destroyed by Ukraine to prevent Ukrainian troops from retreating.<ref>https://gpovanman.wordpress.com/2022/12/11/the-heat-of-the-artemovsk-cauldron/</ref>]]

In late November 2022 Russian troops went back on the offensive in several directions.  The offensive of the Wagner Group continued in Bakhmut and on its outskirts, where the Ukrainian group risked being surrounded.  A section of the railway line was cut.  

In late November 2022 Russian troops went back on the offensive in several directions.  The offensive of the Wagner Group continued in Bakhmut and on its outskirts, where the Ukrainian group risked being surrounded.  A section of the railway line was cut.  

To stay warm, tank crews leave their engines on at all times, making detection and subsequent destruction of both armor and ground troops by Russian forces all the easier.<ref>https://youtu.be/vqm2XVKdaio</ref>Many Ukrainian troops reported they had not seen their commanders in three weeks.  Ukrainian soldiers would try to keep warm in their bunkers and trenches.  When they lit a fire to cook or keep warm, the smoke was spotted by drones directing artillery fire and the NATO/Ukraine forces were immediately killed.  The soldiers suffered from maladies long thought to have ended with [[World War I]], like trench foot.  While in a defensive posture for a prolonged period of time and unable to leave the trench because of constant artillery shelling, the soldiers typically dispose of human waste on the trench floor. The trenches fill up with water from rain and snow, which gets into the soldiers' feet. The soldiers' feet literally rot in the trenches.  Below freezing temperatures causes frostbite in the extremities, then infection and the loss of limbs.

To stay warm, tank crews leave their engines on at all times, making detection and subsequent destruction of both armor and ground troops by Russian forces all the easier. Many Ukrainian troops reported they had not seen their commanders in three weeks.  Ukrainian soldiers would try to keep warm in their bunkers and trenches.  When they lit a fire to cook or keep warm, the smoke was spotted by drones directing artillery fire and the NATO/Ukraine forces were immediately killed.  The soldiers suffered from maladies long thought to have ended with [[World War I]], like trench foot.  While in a defensive posture for a prolonged period of time and unable to leave the trench because of constant artillery shelling, the soldiers typically dispose of human waste on the trench floor. The trenches fill up with water from rain and snow, which gets into the soldiers' feet. The soldiers' feet literally rot in the trenches.  Below freezing temperatures causes frostbite in the extremities, then infection and the loss of limbs.

Ukrainian units again attempted a counteroffensive in the area of Opytnoe on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut. The Wagner fighters repelled the attack, forcing the enemy to retreat with losses.  Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut, which are a mixture of various units, including groups of NATO mercenaries, suffered heavy losses. According to Ukrainian and Western sources, the Ukrainian Army was losing hundreds of fighters killed and wounded daily. Troops from other units were sent to plug the holes in the defense lines.

Ukrainian units again attempted a counteroffensive in the area of Opytnoe on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut. The Wagner fighters repelled the attack, forcing the enemy to retreat with losses.  Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut, which are a mixture of various units, including groups of NATO mercenaries, suffered heavy losses. According to Ukrainian and Western sources, the Ukrainian Army was losing hundreds of fighters killed and wounded daily. Troops from other units were sent to plug the holes in the defense lines.

On December 9, 2022 it was reported that the Polish newspaper NDP (Independent Political Journal) believes without the support of NATO, the fighting in Ukraine would end within a week.  NDP reported daily losses of the AFU near Bakhmut reach battalion size, 500 to 800 soldiers daily; hospitals in the city of Konstantinovka are overcrowded.<ref>https://twitter.com/Cyberspec1/status/1601453311743303680</ref>  [[LPR]] officials claim that Ukraine is transferring up to 500 men ''per day'' to Bakhmut to replenish losses. Even Kiev regime chief [[propagandist]] [[Alexei Arestovych]] admitted that Russian artillery strength in the sector has a 9 to 1 advantage. Bakhmut was becoming the largest and most costly battle of the war for Ukraine.<ref>https://twitter.com/witte_sergei/status/1600921189190234112</ref>  ''Newsweek'' spoke with 'former' U.S. Colonel Andrew Milburn who, together with 'volunteers', trains Ukrainian soldiers: "They've been taking extraordinarily high casualties," Milburn said of the units training with the American Mozart PMC. "The numbers you are reading in the media about 70 percent and above casualties being routine are not exaggerated."<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/wagner-group-targeting-volunteers-ukraine-mozart-group-russia-andy-milburn-1765321</ref>  A unit with 50% casualties is usually no longer able to fight and withdrawn from combat. But Zelensky leaves the units on the frontline until nearly nobody is left in them.

On December 9, 2022 it was reported that the Polish newspaper NDP (Independent Political Journal) believes without the support of NATO, the fighting in Ukraine would end within a week.  NDP reported daily losses of the AFU near Bakhmut reach battalion size, 500 to 800 soldiers daily; hospitals in the city of Konstantinovka are overcrowded.<ref>https://twitter.com/Cyberspec1/status/1601453311743303680</ref>  [[LPR]] officials claim that Ukraine is transferring up to 500 men ''per day'' to Bakhmut to replenish losses. Even Kiev regime chief [[propagandist]] [[Alexei Arestovych]] admitted that Russian artillery strength in the sector has a 9 to 1 advantage. Bakhmut was becoming the largest and most costly battle of the war for Ukraine.<ref>https://twitter.com/witte_sergei/status/1600921189190234112</ref>  ''Newsweek'' spoke with 'former' U.S. Colonel Andrew Milburn who, together with 'volunteers', trains Ukrainian soldiers: "They've been taking extraordinarily high casualties," Milburn said of the units training with the American Mozart PMC. "The numbers you are reading in the media about 70 percent and above casualties being routine are not exaggerated."<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/wagner-group-targeting-volunteers-ukraine-mozart-group-russia-andy-milburn-1765321</ref>  A unit with 50% casualties is usually no longer able to fight and withdrawn from combat. But Zelensky leaves the units on the frontline until nearly nobody is left in them.

Medical evacuation from the frontline trenches was extremely difficult. Most wounded just died there.  The equipment they used is mostly lost with them.

Medical evacuation from the frontline trenches was extremely difficult. Most wounded just died there.  The equipment they used is mostly lost with them. Doctors reported 80% of all combat injuries were from shrapnel and confirmed the high casualty rate.<ref>https://youtu.be/vqm2XVKdaio</ref>

==See also==

==See also==