RUSSIA PUSHES TO TAKE BAKHMUT
More than a year after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine, fears are high in Russia that the government is planning a fresh mobilisation drive after a Bill was rushed through parliament this week to create a digital draft system.
Under the legislation, which Putin signed on Friday, a draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers are received.
Tens of thousands of men fled Russia last autumn after Putin announced a mobilisation to prop up the forces in Ukraine.
The strike on Sloviansk, which many residents have fled since Russia invaded, came as Moscow said it was pushing to take more districts of ravaged Bakhmut.
Despite having little strategic value, the town has become a fixation of military commanders, leading to a brutal nine-month war of attrition.
“Wagner assault units are conducting high-intensity combat operations to conquer the western districts of the city,” the Russian army said in a statement, referring to the private paramilitary group.
Russian airborne troops were “providing support to assault squads and halting the enemy’s attempts to deliver ammunition to the city and bring in reserves”, it added.
On Thursday, Moscow claimed to have cut off Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. Kyiv denied the claim, saying that it had access to its troops and was able to send in munitions.
Ukraine has vowed to continue defending Bakhmut. But on the ground, Ukrainian sources near Bakhmut told AFP on Friday that Kyiv’s forces were in a “difficult” position.
“I know that many of our soldiers are missing, that positions were lost and it was impossible to evacuate or withdraw the troops,” an army source said, while adding that Ukraine was still “bringing in fresh people” into Bakhmut.
Separately, an intelligence source said that any pull-out from Bakhmut would be slow and gradual, as there was only a narrow escape path left.
