Changes

As early as January 5, 2023 Russians approached Soledar from two strike axes, from the north and from the south, forcing Ukrainian forces into a hard-fought retreat to avoid encirclement. Over the next few days, formations with Ukraine's 46th Airborne Brigade, supplemented with artillery and additional armor, managed to somewhat stabilize the situation, but not for long.  

As early as January 5, 2023 Russians approached Soledar from two strike axes, from the north and from the south, forcing Ukrainian forces into a hard-fought retreat to avoid encirclement. Over the next few days, formations with Ukraine's 46th Airborne Brigade, supplemented with artillery and additional armor, managed to somewhat stabilize the situation, but not for long.  

[[File:Bakhmut T-34 monument.jpeg|right|300px|thumb|The Wagner flag flies over the famed Bakhmut [[T-34]] monument which had driven the Western-backed Nazis out of Donbas generations before.<ref>https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ukraine-wagner-group-soldiers-raise-company-flag-on-bakhmut-monument/</ref>]]

[[File:Bakhmut T-34 monument.jpeg|right|300px|thumb|The Wagner flag flies over the famed Bakhmut [[T-34]] monument which had driven the Western-backed Nazis out of Donbas generations before.<ref>https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ukraine-wagner-group-soldiers-raise-company-flag-on-bakhmut-monument/</ref>]]

On January 8, 2023 Russian forces cut the highway between Bakhmut and Soledar and the highway between Bakhmut and Siversk.  Tactical encirclement of the remaining troops in Soledar was completed on January 9, 2023. On January 10 the Wagner group media announced the capture of Soledar; Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder and head of the Wagner group, personally took part in the campaign and was present on the battlefield.  According to Ukrainian sources, Ukraine lost 17 battalions, roughly 23,000 soldiers, in the Battle of Soledar.  Most of the captured POWs were from the elite 77th Airborne Brigade of the AFU, trained in the UK in late fall 2022.  On January 12, at least 200 Ukrainian soldiers were reported to be hiding in the underground salt mine tunnels, along with large stockpiles of ammunition. Salt Mine No. 7 was rumored to have a tunnel that extended all the way south to Bakhmut.  Salt Mine 7 was captured by Wagner fighters by January 16, 2023. Russian forces rapidly moved on in the Seversk direction.

On January 8, 2023, Russian forces cut the highway between Bakhmut and Soledar and the highway between Bakhmut and Siversk.  Tactical encirclement of the remaining troops in Soledar was completed on January 9, 2023. On January 10 the Wagner group media announced the capture of Soledar; Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder and head of the Wagner group, personally took part in the campaign and was present on the battlefield.  According to Ukrainian sources, Ukraine lost 17 battalions, roughly 23,000 soldiers, in the Battle of Soledar.  Most of the captured POWs were from the elite 77th Airborne Brigade of the AFU, trained in the UK in late fall 2022.  On January 12, at least 200 Ukrainian soldiers were reported to be hiding in the underground salt mine tunnels, along with large stockpiles of ammunition. Salt Mine No. 7 was rumored to have a tunnel that extended all the way south to Bakhmut.  Salt Mine 7 was captured by Wagner fighters by January 16, 2023. Russian forces rapidly moved on in the Seversk direction.

On January 17, 2023, Moonofalabama reported counting 27 brigade size formations of Ukrainian forces in the Bakhmut area. Those forces would constitute 50% of Ukraine's battle ready forces.<ref>https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/01/ukraine-sitrep-media-ignorance-counter-artillery-war-three-lost-armies-.html</ref>  On January 20 Big Serge stated that "publicly available Ukrainian sources locate at least 34 brigade or equivalent units that have been deployed in the Bakhmut area. Many of these were deployed months ago and are already shattered, but over the full span of the ongoing battle this represents an astonishing commitment."<ref>https://bigserge.substack.com/p/russo-ukrainian-war-the-world-blood</ref>  According to Ukrainian sources,<ref>https://www.theinteldrop.org/2023/02/05/life-expectancy-for-undertrained-ukrainian-troops-in-bakhmut-is-4-hours/</ref> the life expectancy of an untrained conscript pressed into service in Bakhmut by the Kyiv regime was 4 hours.

On January 17, 2023, Moonofalabama reported counting 27 brigade size formations of Ukrainian forces in the Bakhmut area. Those forces would constitute 50% of Ukraine's battle ready forces.<ref>https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/01/ukraine-sitrep-media-ignorance-counter-artillery-war-three-lost-armies-.html</ref>  On January 20 Big Serge stated that "publicly available Ukrainian sources locate at least 34 brigade or equivalent units that have been deployed in the Bakhmut area. Many of these were deployed months ago and are already shattered, but over the full span of the ongoing battle this represents an astonishing commitment."<ref>https://bigserge.substack.com/p/russo-ukrainian-war-the-world-blood</ref>  According to Ukrainian sources,<ref>https://www.theinteldrop.org/2023/02/05/life-expectancy-for-undertrained-ukrainian-troops-in-bakhmut-is-4-hours/</ref> the life expectancy of an untrained conscript pressed into service in Bakhmut by the Kyiv regime was 4 hours.

The estimated life expectancy of a Ukrainian soldier deployed in Bakhmut according to some sources was 4 hours.  On February 6, 2023 Ukrainian Nazis were reported to have used chemical weapons, which they openly boasted about on social networks.  The infamous Ukrainian blogger and commander of a separate tactical air reconnaissance group Madyar published a new video showing FPV drones and chemical munitions, hinting that the Ukrainian military are preparing to use prohibited weapons in Bakhmut. On the evening of February 5, 2023 the first use of this chemical weapon was reported in the village of Novobakhmutovka on the outskirts of Donetsk. Russian servicemen suffered vomiting and convulsions.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/SS9QdGSfJhva/</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/LkGYtA46qJI</ref> The claims were supported by photos of crashed drones identical to those that Magyar boasted about in a video uploaded to the internet.<ref>https://s4.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/video/06.02.2023_IMR_Ukraine.mp4</ref>

The estimated life expectancy of a Ukrainian soldier deployed in Bakhmut according to some sources was 4 hours.  On February 6, 2023, Ukrainian Nazis were reported to have used chemical weapons, which they openly boasted about on social networks.  The infamous Ukrainian blogger and commander of a separate tactical air reconnaissance group Madyar published a new video showing FPV drones and chemical munitions, hinting that the Ukrainian military are preparing to use prohibited weapons in Bakhmut. On the evening of February 5, 2023 the first use of this chemical weapon was reported in the village of Novobakhmutovka on the outskirts of Donetsk. Russian servicemen suffered vomiting and convulsions.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/SS9QdGSfJhva/</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/LkGYtA46qJI</ref> The claims were supported by photos of crashed drones identical to those that Magyar boasted about in a video uploaded to the internet.<ref>https://s4.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/video/06.02.2023_IMR_Ukraine.mp4</ref>

On February 24, 2023 the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainians lost 15 armored vehicles including 2 tanks. On February 25 the Ukrainians lost 3 armored vehicles. On February 26 the Ukrainian's lost 6 armored vehicles.  On February 27 the Ukrainians lost 11 armored vehicles including 2 tanks. On February 28 Ukrainian forces lost 350 fighters and 16 armored vehicles. On March 1, 2023 the MOD reported 190 Ukrainian troops killed, and loss of 18 armored and 16 light vehicles.

On February 24, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainians lost 15 armored vehicles including 2 tanks. On February 25 the Ukrainians lost 3 armored vehicles. On February 26 the Ukrainian's lost 6 armored vehicles.  On February 27 the Ukrainians lost 11 armored vehicles including 2 tanks. On February 28 Ukrainian forces lost 350 fighters and 16 armored vehicles. On March 1, 2023, the MOD reported 190 Ukrainian troops killed, and loss of 18 armored and 16 light vehicles.

As the encirclement closed in an [[AFU]] forces in early March 2023, the Russian forces allowed untrained, conscripted 16-year-olds and elderly men pressed into service by the [[Zelensky regime]] to escape without being killed or captured via the last remaining escape route out of Bakhmut.<ref>https://youtu.be/NmzuuWMsm1k</ref> 10,000 Ukrainian troops were said to be trapped in the cauldron.<ref>[https://youtu.be/zg6HpuW8OYU Russia Claims Bakhmut Cauldron 10k Troops Trapped; West Media Admits Ukraine Losses, Blames Zelensky], Alexander Mercouris, March 6, 2023.</ref>

As the encirclement closed in an [[AFU]] forces in early March 2023, the Russian forces allowed untrained, conscripted 16-year-olds and elderly men pressed into service by the [[Zelensky regime]] to escape without being killed or captured via the last remaining escape route out of Bakhmut.<ref>https://youtu.be/NmzuuWMsm1k</ref> 10,000 Ukrainian troops were said to be trapped in the cauldron.<ref>[https://youtu.be/zg6HpuW8OYU Russia Claims Bakhmut Cauldron 10k Troops Trapped; West Media Admits Ukraine Losses, Blames Zelensky], Alexander Mercouris, March 6, 2023.</ref>

The cylinders were likely filled with hydrocyanic acid (HCN), which is a poisonous volatile liquid. 85-90% of poisoning cases end in death. The concentration of HCN of more than 0.4 mg/l causes deadly poisoning. If the concentration of the substance in the air exceeds 11 mg / l, then intoxication is possible even percutaneously.  The Russian Embassy in the UK identified the illegal toxic munitions as possibly [[phosgene]], prohibited by the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention.<ref>https://twitter.com/RussianEmbassy/status/1613982741271351305</ref>  The letters “OB” as seen in the video stand for toxic munition. This also explains why the gas cylinders need to be stored in the refrigerator.

The cylinders were likely filled with hydrocyanic acid (HCN), which is a poisonous volatile liquid. 85-90% of poisoning cases end in death. The concentration of HCN of more than 0.4 mg/l causes deadly poisoning. If the concentration of the substance in the air exceeds 11 mg / l, then intoxication is possible even percutaneously.  The Russian Embassy in the UK identified the illegal toxic munitions as possibly [[phosgene]], prohibited by the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention.<ref>https://twitter.com/RussianEmbassy/status/1613982741271351305</ref>  The letters “OB” as seen in the video stand for toxic munition. This also explains why the gas cylinders need to be stored in the refrigerator.

On February 6, 2023 Ukrainian Nazis were reported to have used chemical weapons, which they openly boasted about on social networks.  The infamous Ukrainian blogger and commander of a separate tactical air reconnaissance group Madyar published a new video showing FPV drones and chemical munitions, hinting that the Ukrainian military are preparing to use prohibited weapons in Bakhmut. On the evening of February 5, 2023 the first use of this chemical weapon was reported in the village of Novobakhmutovka on the outskirts of Donetsk. Russian servicemen suffered vomiting and convulsions.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/SS9QdGSfJhva/</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/LkGYtA46qJI</ref> The claims were supported by photos of crashed drones identical to those that Magyar boasted about in a video uploaded to the internet.<ref>https://s4.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/video/06.02.2023_IMR_Ukraine.mp4</ref>

On February 6, 2023, Ukrainian Nazis were reported to have used chemical weapons, which they openly boasted about on social networks.  The infamous Ukrainian blogger and commander of a separate tactical air reconnaissance group Madyar published a new video showing FPV drones and chemical munitions, hinting that the Ukrainian military are preparing to use prohibited weapons in Bakhmut. On the evening of February 5, 2023 the first use of this chemical weapon was reported in the village of Novobakhmutovka on the outskirts of Donetsk. Russian servicemen suffered vomiting and convulsions.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/SS9QdGSfJhva/</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/LkGYtA46qJI</ref> The claims were supported by photos of crashed drones identical to those that Magyar boasted about in a video uploaded to the internet.<ref>https://s4.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/video/06.02.2023_IMR_Ukraine.mp4</ref>

On February 16, 2023 Ukrainian sources reported 2,000 troops remained in Bakhmut.

On February 16, 2023, Ukrainian sources reported 2,000 troops remained in Bakhmut.

'Madyar', the Ukrainian commander known for manufacturing and dropping chemical bombs by drone on Russian troops, was reported killed in artillery shelling in Avdiivka on April 3, 2023.

'Madyar', the Ukrainian commander known for manufacturing and dropping chemical bombs by drone on Russian troops, was reported killed in artillery shelling in Avdiivka on April 3, 2023.

In the month of February 2023 the Ukrainians lost about 11,000 men in Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.easternherald.com/2023/03/07/prigozhin-said-wagner-pmc-killed-11000-uaf-militants-in-bakhmut-in-february/</ref>  During the fall of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky sent thousands of untrained 16-year-olds, middle-aged fathers, and old men, forcibly pressed in service of the [[Kiev regime]] to die senselessly as cannon fodder, [[Germany]]’s top newspaper ''Bild'' reported that Zelensky had a major disagreement with his top general [[Zaluzhny]] regarding the withdrawal, or lack thereof, of Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/03/why-bakhmut-is-falling.html</ref>  Gen. Zaluzhny had argued for months to abandon Bakhmut and end the slaughter, however Zelensky did not want to give the appearance to his Western puppet masters that Ukraine was losing ground while he was begging for money before the [[U.S. Congress]].<ref>https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/ukraine-praesident-streitet-mit-general-ueber-die-blutigste-schlacht-des-krieges-83106290.bild.html</ref> Apparently to do damage control, Zelensky quickly released a video statement claiming that it was in fact the general staff (Zaluzhny and [[Syrsky]]) who advised him to defend and reinforce Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/KNTMCWdfONAR/</ref>

In the month of February 2023 the Ukrainians lost about 11,000 men in Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.easternherald.com/2023/03/07/prigozhin-said-wagner-pmc-killed-11000-uaf-militants-in-bakhmut-in-february/</ref>  During the fall of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky sent thousands of untrained 16-year-olds, middle-aged fathers, and old men, forcibly pressed in service of the [[Kiev regime]] to die senselessly as cannon fodder, [[Germany]]’s top newspaper ''Bild'' reported that Zelensky had a major disagreement with his top general [[Zaluzhny]] regarding the withdrawal, or lack thereof, of Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/03/why-bakhmut-is-falling.html</ref>  Gen. Zaluzhny had argued for months to abandon Bakhmut and end the slaughter, however Zelensky did not want to give the appearance to his Western puppet masters that Ukraine was losing ground while he was begging for money before the [[U.S. Congress]].<ref>https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/ukraine-praesident-streitet-mit-general-ueber-die-blutigste-schlacht-des-krieges-83106290.bild.html</ref> Apparently to do damage control, Zelensky quickly released a video statement claiming that it was in fact the general staff (Zaluzhny and [[Syrsky]]) who advised him to defend and reinforce Bakhmut.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/KNTMCWdfONAR/</ref>

On March 7, 2023 Prigozhin estimated the number at between 12,000 and 20,000.

On March 7, 2023, Prigozhin estimated the number at between 12,000 and 20,000.

By mid-March 2023 the city was in operational encirclement; on March 23, 2023 reports indicated NATO/Ukraine had accumulated a force of 80,000 in attempt to unblock the encirclement. Russian forces were estimated at about 50,000, with 30,000 of those being the Wagner group.

By mid-March 2023 the city was in operational encirclement; on March 23, 2023 reports indicated NATO/Ukraine had accumulated a force of 80,000 in attempt to unblock the encirclement. Russian forces were estimated at about 50,000, with 30,000 of those being the Wagner group.

On March 29, 2023 a captured Ukrainian soldier informed the Russians of an underground tunnel connecting Chasiv Yar to Bakhmut which was being used for resupply.

On March 29, 2023, a captured Ukrainian soldier informed the Russians of an underground tunnel connecting Chasiv Yar to Bakhmut which was being used for resupply.

By April 7, 2023 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers remained trapped in the cauldron.

By April 7, 2023, 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers remained trapped in the cauldron.

By April 21, 2023 about 8,000 Ukrainian forces were trapped in western Bakhmut.  As the Wagner group moved deeper into Bakhmut, fire control over the supply routes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine increased, as a result of which the Ukrainian troops began to lose up to 90% of the equipment and people sent to Bakhmut not only from Chasov Yar, but from other neighboring towns.

By April 21, 2023, about 8,000 Ukrainian forces were trapped in western Bakhmut.  As the Wagner group moved deeper into Bakhmut, fire control over the supply routes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine increased, as a result of which the Ukrainian troops began to lose up to 90% of the equipment and people sent to Bakhmut not only from Chasov Yar, but from other neighboring towns.

==References==

==References==

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==External link==

==External links==

*[https://youtu.be/bTBhjsHd4g8 Footage of Americans fighting in Bakhmut].

*[https://youtu.be/bTBhjsHd4g8 Footage of Americans fighting in Bakhmut].