Changes

==Summer campaign - the Bakhmut-Soledar front==

==Summer campaign - the Bakhmut-Soledar front==

{{See also|2022 Special Military Operation in Ukraine - Donbas cauldron#Bakhmut-Soledar front}}

{{See also|2022 Special Military Operation in Ukraine - Donbas cauldron#Bakhmut-Soledar front}}

The [[Battle of Severodonetsk-Lysychansk|battle for Severodonetsk-Lysychansk]] metropolitan area ended with the victory of Russian-led forces. [[AFU]] forces suffered about 7,000 casualties in the Battle of Severodonetsk-Lysychansk.  The front line of Bakhmut/Artemovsk – Soledar-Seversk, also known as the Zelensky Line, became the new hotspot.  On June 28, 2022 it was reported that the Ukrainians had amassed about 20,000 troops which had been withdrawn from several surrounding fronts around the town of Siversk (pop. 10,000) in the Northern [[Donetsk Republic]], between Izium and Lysychansk.  Another 20,000 were reported around the Bakhmut fortress.  Bakhmut is a crossroads of multiple roads and rail lines and sits on high ground.

The [[Battle of Severodonetsk-Lysychansk|battle for Severodonetsk-Lysychansk]] metropolitan area ended with the victory of Russian-led forces. [[AFU]] forces suffered about 7,000 casualties in the Battle of Severodonetsk-Lysychansk.  The front line of Bakhmut/Artemovsk – Soledar-Seversk, also known as the Zelensky Line, became the new hotspot.  On June 28, 2022 it was reported that the Ukrainians had amassed about 20,000 troops which had been withdrawn from several surrounding fronts around the town of Siversk (pop. 10,000) in the Northern [[Donetsk Republic]], between Izium and Lysychansk.  Another 20,000 were reported around the Bakhmut fortress.  Bakhmut is a crossroads of multiple roads and rail lines and sits on high ground. Control of the Bakhmut area would help secure the Seversky-Donetsk canal, which is essential to the water supply of the city of [[Donetsk]], cut off by the Kiev regime since 2015.<ref>https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/4/2118321/-Ukraine-Water-Infrastructure-is-the-Strategic-Prize-in-Donbas</ref>

On August 1, 2022 Russian forces were reported to have entered the outskirts of Bakhmut (''Russian:'' [[Artemovsk]]; pop. 72,000).  The Ukrainian bunkers built around Bakhmut were likened to [[North Korea]]n DMZ bunkers.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/eH9uXMYZxeTE/</ref>  Ukrainian soldiers occupying Bakhmut reported that civilians in the city were anxious to fly the Russian flag.

On August 1, 2022 Russian forces were reported to have entered the outskirts of Bakhmut (''Russian:'' [[Artemovsk]]; pop. 72,000).  The Ukrainian bunkers built around Bakhmut were likened to [[North Korea]]n DMZ bunkers.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/eH9uXMYZxeTE/</ref>  Ukrainian soldiers occupying Bakhmut reported that civilians in the city were anxious to fly the Russian flag.