Today's D Brief: Zelenskyy to Bakhmut; BBC on the frontlines; DeSantis backpedals on Ukraine; USAF's Pacific plans; And a bit more.
Defense OneDec 23, 2022
The Facts
Russian forces in the Donetsk city of Bakhmut are "losing steam," Ukraine's commander of its armed forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday, pledging that his army will soon launch a counter-offensive to retake ground in the area.
The account matched earlier analysis from the UK's defense ministry, which said in an intelligence assessment earlier in the week that "there is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained."
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Russia's attacks on Bakhmut are losing momentum. Ukrainian forces will soon exhaust Moscow's attempts to take the city and will turn the tide on fighting to recover the ground.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia has practically surrounded Bakhmut and all supply roads in and out are controlled by its artillery fire. It's only a matter of time before Russia takes the city.