Ukraine: "Russia's Elite 72nd Brigade Defeated in Bakhmut"... Counteroffensive Operations Begin in Earnest

The Ukrainian military announced that it repelled Russia's elite forces in the eastern battleground of Bakhmut, drawing attention to whether this marks a new turning point in the Ukraine war. With significant changes expected on the frontlines in Bakhmut, where fierce fighting has been ongoing since last September, there is growing anticipation that Ukraine's counteroffensive operations will intensify.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to Voice of America (VOA) on the 10th (local time), the Ukrainian Army's 3rd Assault Brigade stated in a press release that "Russia's 72nd Brigade was defeated and withdrew to the outskirts of Bakhmut," adding that "the 6th and 7th battalions under the 72nd Brigade were annihilated, and the intelligence unit was also defeated." The Russian Army's 72nd Brigade has been regarded as an elite unit both inside and outside Russia and has been engaged in ongoing battles in Bakhmut, the frontline of the Ukraine war.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Eastern Forces, also said in an interview with local media on the same day, "The Russian 72nd Brigade suffered heavy losses," confirming that two battalions sustained severe damage. However, he added, "Unfortunately, the entire brigade has not yet been destroyed, and the situation in Bakhmut remains difficult."

Earlier, on the 9th, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, also announced the defeat of the 72nd Brigade and the retreat from Bakhmut, warning of a frontline collapse. He stated, "The 72nd Brigade lost control of 3 square kilometers in Bakhmut, and the Wagner Group lost 500 combatants."

Since last September, as both armies have engaged in a costly war of attrition on the Bakhmut front, the Russian forces' prospects have dimmed, leading to expectations of significant overall changes in the Ukraine war frontlines. According to U.S. and Western intelligence agencies, Russian casualties have exceeded 200,000 since the start of the conflict, and with sanctions against Russia disrupting weapon supplies, maintaining the frontline is considered extremely difficult.

Meanwhile, the Russian military has yet to issue an official statement. However, since a Russian brigade typically consists of several thousand troops, the devastating losses suffered by the 72nd Brigade are expected to be difficult to recover from quickly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.