Russian bloggers continue to speculate about a possible Ukrainian counter-offensive in southern Ukraine and say that Russian troops are being tied to offensive operations in Bakhmut, which, in their opinion, increases Ukraine's offensive capabilities.. This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Bloggers, ISW analysts write, largely agree that Ukrainian forces will have priority to advance southward to Berdyansk-Melitopol in Zaporozhye Oblast or Mariupol-Volnovakha in Donetsk Oblast, but some have argued that Ukrainian forces have enough combat power to carry out.

And a blogger associated with PIK Wagner agreed with ISW's preliminary assessments of the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut, arguing that Ukrainian troops are grinding the best available Russian infantry around Bakhmut to reduce the ability of Russian troops to stop any Ukrainian advances.. He argued that Ukrainian forces would be able to move south and meet minimal Russian resistance there..

Another blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces would attack southern Ukraine because “destroyed Crimea” is of strategic importance, while “destroyed Donbass” is not.. And Russian State Duma deputy Dmitry Kuznetsov said that Ukrainian troops would finally destroy the Kerch bridge, as Antonovsky once did.. He urged Russian troops to quickly develop an anti-personnel war to protect critical land lines connecting Crimea with Russia..

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Recall, ISW analysts believe that the Russian units on the tactics of encircling Bakhmut switched to the tactics of squeezing defenders out of the city.