Why Bakhmut Still Matters — From Ukraine's Frontline, An Iconic Battle Is Back In Play

March counteroffensive

For Yevhen Mezhevikin’s units near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian counteroffensive did not start in June, when Kyiv's offensive actions started making headlines, but all the way back in March.

“At the time, the [Ukrainian] units south of Bakhmut were giving ground, and there was a real threat of the city being encircled,” Mezhevikin says. “The enemy almost reached the Kostyantynivka-Bakhmut road (the main supply route to the besieged city), and I was appointed the head of the units tasked with stopping the [Russian] advance, inflicting damage and restoring the lost positions.”

All logistics into the city passed through our tactical unit.

His units were successful, not allowing the Wagner forces to close the city's encirclement and maintain supply lines to its defenders, and continued counteroffensive actions.

“We secured the ‘highway of life’ to Bakhmut,” the 41-year-old colonel says. “All logistics into the city passed through our tactical unit, through Ivanivske. The task was not only to secure this road, but also to reach additional ones.”

Mezhevikin mentions that he commands multiple battalions, listing the 3rd assault, 80th, 28th, 24th, 22nd, and 5th, and some separate battalions. While he refrains from disclosing the troop numbers, he confirms that his grouping includes mechanized, assault, artillery, and airborne units.

Enemy's reserves

In May, Telegram channels associated with Ukraine's 3rd assault brigade, led by Andrey Biletsky, claimed to have forced the Russian 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade to retreat near Bakhmut. But Mezhevikin insists that the conquests then surpassed what was publicly reported at the time.

“The 3rd Brigade simply voiced what all units were doing in cooperation,” says Mezhevikin. “When the 3rd started the offensive, it was not yet part of the “Adam” tactical group but of "Azov", under Biletsky's command. That's why he announced these actions in the media and telegram channels. But it was the 5th and 80th that launched the offensive and saw further success. The 80th went deep into enemy territory, which is a more dangerous direction.”

Mezhevikin remains discreet about the current actions of the units under his command, buts admits that in some places, the offensive actions slowed down in June.

“There are measures that must be carried out after the assaults - building fortifications, de-mining the recaptured area, creation of logistical routes. All of this requires time,” Mezhevikin says. “Moreover, after our offensive, the enemy brought reserves here — a battalion of paratroopers, a battalion of the tank regiment of the 4th brigade, all of which are here to replace the Wagner troops.”

Accomplished objectives

After its capture of Bakhmut, Wagner proclaimed that it would withdraw its troops from the city and allow it to be occupied by the regular Russian army. This came as feuds between Wagner chief Prigozhin and the Russian military high command were heating up. According to Mezhevikin, the mercenary company did indeed withdraw its forces, as previously stated.

“Right now, there are no "Wagnerites" among the prisoners, and interrogations of other prisoners show that they are not here,” he says.

He adds that Wagner troops and other Russian forces suffered major casualties in Bakhmut, which helps to justify the territorial defeat. “Every battle, even if it does not end with us raising a flag over a certain position, height, or settlement, achieves its goal,” the commander says. “We withdrew from the position but inflicted maximum casualties on the enemy. This type of warfare is quite efficient, so all the battles that occurred here can be considered victories.”

Arms and politics

With the Ukrainian counteroffensive underway in several directions across Ukraine, “Adam” calls for a level-headed approach. “If you strive for maximum gains in an offensive, you must understand that you can lose a significant number of personnel and equipment. If you aim for minimum losses, you'll preserve more personnel, but achieve minimal results.”

He believes a comprehensive approach is needed in the region. “If we are to advance at this moment, we should do so by employing a flexible application of forces and resources,” he continues. “The enemy has been preparing for our offensive for a long time. There are sections where we need to traverse on foot, areas where we must utilize our vehicles, then continue on foot and halt for logistical support. All of it is heavily mined. There cannot be a "just keep moving forward" mentality here. You can achieve maximum gains but with significant losses.”

War has become a way of life.

Mezhevikin believes that if the Ukrainian army advances prudently and combines arms and politics, it will ultimately expel the Russian forces from occupied territories and reach its 1991 borders.

“We will not reach them immediately. But gradually, yes” he says. “If we continue to be successful and the enemy suffers losses, this will force him to make political decisions and negotiate at the end of the war.”

But while the war veteran wants this to occur, he remains unsure of what an end to the conflict would mean for him personally.

“I’ve been fighting for more than nine years, I treat war like ordinary life," he says. "To go back to civilian life and not fight... I don't know how I would behave there, or what life would be like. War has become a way of life.”

Of course, however, he hopes for the war to end. "It has already taken away so many of my friends.”