Comments by "Aristocles Athenaioi" (@aristoclesathenaioi4939) on "BAKHMUT Facing Operational ENCIRCLEMENT" video.

@GregorySmith-lo2lj Bakhmut is strategic only because Russia has placed so much emphasis on taking Bakhmut. Admittedly taking Bakhmut does complicate Ukrainian supply, but not enough to merit the casualties that Russia is taking. Bakhmut is very important to Wagner Group because Progozhin put taking Bakhmut was necessary to maintain the reputation of Wagner. Failing to take Bakhmut really hurts reputation of Wagner. At this point Bakhmut has taken on symbolic more than strategic value in much the same way that Stalingrad did for the Soviets in the 2nd World War. I agree that Ukraine is paying a heavy price defending Bakhmut, and I might have retreated by now, but I am not the Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. So far the Ukrainian Army seems to have done a good job overall, and even pulled off a text book "retreat-and-defend" withdrawal from Severiodonetsk in June. In turn Russia used the same retreat-and-defend approach in their withdrawal from Kherson. Bakhmut presents a different situation as Ukraine denies Russian the complete capture of Bakhmut that everyone claimed Russian would take quickly after capturing Lysychansk. Well it has been six months since then and Russia lost Izium and Lyman as well as Kherson, and have repeatedly said they have captured Bakhmut. It remains to be seen who comes out better from Bakhmut, but both sides have suffered stupendous losses.
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What is "operational" encirclement? Is it different from an encirclement?
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With respect to the Zaporizhzhia front Ukraine never sent troops to Bakhmut but they remained in place and repulsed the Russian attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rhQz_xIsI
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@rllybigguy looked a lot more like tactical analysis than propaganda and it directly contradicts what was said here. It may take sometime for all the maps to line which ever way is, but that guy has a good track record on analysis that the updated maps match. So just wait and see. When you do then you can start watching his channel.
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@rllybigguy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6C-5CTe6_Q follow-up that references Russian MoD reports as well as Western sources. Not every channel that is pro-Ukraine shows propaganda because some of the bloggers have friends who are on the front line. Those bloggers practice good OpSec (Operational Security) and avoid their reports being too detailed, but they are being fed information by the Ukrainian military in the way that I have seen some pro-Russian bloggers use Russian MoD reports without any critical commentary. I do not recommend many pro-Ukrainian channels because they let their loyalties affect their reporting, but that is a straight shooter and does genuine tactical analysis. I watch some pro-Russian channels just to balance my information, and I only recommend that channel which is admittedly pro-Ukrainian. Give it a try.
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@L98fiero the justification is that Wagner recruited more troops to take Bakhmut and wasted those troops rather than simply lay siege to Bakhmut under fire control. Why bother taking the land if you can prevent your opponent for using it? Progozihin wanted a political win ( Wagner took Bakhmut) rather than an operational win (Wagner has Bakhmut under fire control) Most people watching TV in Russia or the US for that matter have no idea what "fire control" which means it makes for a bad headline. "Wagner captured Bakhmut" sounds much better, and Progozihin wants the publicity.
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@L98fiero someone else used the term "operational encirclement" and I wondered what is the difference between that and encirclement?
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@L98fiero Ah! Thank you for the clarification!
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