Intense Fighting at Bakhmut Townshell
In a recent episode of the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA, delved into the intense and unique nature of the Battle of Bakhmut, a conflict that has become one of the fiercest urban battles in Europe since World War II.
Kofman, who recently returned from Bakhmut, Ukraine, highlighted the city's symbolic importance and its transformation from a site of lesser tactical interest to a central, grinding contest for both Russia and Ukraine. The combat's urban complexity, including close-quarters fighting and trench systems within the city, distinguishes it from many other battles in the war.
This situation required constant Ukrainian unit rotations to sustain defense, underscoring the battle’s exhausting and attritional character. The battle became a "meat grinder" and "vortex" with trench and urban warfare, drawing comparisons to historic battles like Verdun (WWI) and Stalingrad (WWII) because of the extreme intensity and high casualties.
Kofman's insights help us understand how urban terrain — with destroyed buildings, narrow streets, and fortified positions — shaped the struggle. Defenders leveraged the landscape to offset Russian numerical and firepower advantages.
The podcast, hosted by John Spencer, offers a comprehensive analysis of the situation in Bakhmut from the perspectives of both Russian and Ukrainian forces. It also discusses possible outcomes of the battle and the unique urban features that contribute to the complexity of the battle in Bakhmut and other battles in the Russia-Ukraine War.
The image used in this article is credited to Mil.gov.ua and can be found on Wikimedia Commons, providing a visual representation of the conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine.
You can listen to the full conversation below or find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app. The Urban Warfare Project Podcast can be subscribed to, and if enjoyed, a review or rating can be left.
Whether you prefer to read or listen, this insightful discussion provides a valuable perspective on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Share this article on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or via email to keep others informed. A print version of the article is also available.
- Military strategists and political analysts are comparing the brutal urban warfare in Bakhmut to historical battles like Verdun and Stalingrad, due to the intense combat, high casualties, and the urban complexity.
- Kofman's analysis in the Urban Warfare Project Podcast emphasizes how the urban terrain, with its destroyed buildings, narrow streets, and fortified positions, significantly affects the ongoing struggle in Bakhmut, as Ukrainian forces use the landscape to counter Russian numerical and firepower advantages.
- The podcast, hosted by John Spencer, offers a detailed exploration of the situation in Bakhmut, discussing the unique strategy and challenges of urban warfare, as well as possible outcomes of the battle in the larger context of the Russia-Ukraine War.
