Russia intensifying close combat in Ukraine?

Moscow [Russia], March 6: Recent evidence suggests that close-quarters battles are on the rise on all fronts in Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut continue to hold out.
Yesterday (March 5), TASS updated information about Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's front-line visit to southern Donetsk . There, Mr. Shoigu heard reports on the field situation in the areas they were responsible for. Thereby, Mr. Shoigu gave instructions on the future battle plan.
It is not possible to force Ukrainian units to withdraw from Bakhmut
On the same day, March 5, the British Ministry of Defense published a report noting that Russia is increasing the application of melee tactics on many fronts. In one case, Sputnik News quoted information from a Wagner mercenary unit that destroyed an enemy infantry fighting vehicle in the city of Bakhmut, the current hotspot in Donetsk. The weapon used is an anti-tank shoulder grenade launcher. Moscow has not commented on the report, according to The Guardian.
Regarding the Bakhmut front, the Institute for the Study of War (based in Washington DC, USA) said that Russian forces could hardly besiege this area soon. "The Russian army seems to have gained a significant positional advantage to be able to launch offensive operations to turn the tide in some areas of Bakhmut. However, the Russian side has not been able to force the withdrawal of Ukrainian units yet. retreat from Bakhmut and it is unlikely that this place will be surrounded anytime soon," the institute said.
In a video message on the evening of March 4, Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky thanked the soldiers protecting Bakhmut, but did not mention the details of the fighting here. At the same time, the Office of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army said it had repelled Russian attacks in the villages of Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka and Hryhorivka, all north of the city center.
Russia drops smart bombs in Ukraine?
Yesterday, the Defense Express website specializing in reporting on the military situation in Ukraine, citing sources familiar with the situation, said that Russia is said to have deployed the smart bomb UPAB-1500B, weighing 1.5 tons, with a range of 40 km in the Ukraine campaign. . The Russian side has not commented on this information.
Jane's defense magazine said the UPAB-1500B bomb is equipped with a 1,010 kg warhead, capable of penetrating bunkers. This is a line of guided bombs of military contractor GNPP Region, first announced at the 2019 arms exhibition event.
On the same day, CNN, citing three sources familiar with the matter, revealed that the United States was assessing the flying ability of two Ukrainian pilots to determine how long it would take for two pilots to learn to fly many US military aircraft. including the F-16 fighter line being requested by Kyiv to deliver.
There are currently no plans to increase the number of pilots participating in the program and there is no new information on the possibility of the US supplying F-16s to the Kyiv government, according to a US official. It is expected that it will take 18 months to complete the F-16 pilot training and the cost will be very high.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper