Update for Russian military operations in Ukraine for February 15, 2023:

- Ukrainian forces continue to lose ground along the line of contact;

- Bakhmut faces encirclement by Russian forces which Ukraine admits is using heavy artillery shelling, not "human waves" to destroy Ukrainian positions;

- NATO begins to admit to limits of what it can send Ukraine in terms of weapons and ammunition;

- Efforts by Western nations to increase production will still fall far short even after several years of expanding production lines;

- US announces plan to train Ukrainian forces to fight on less ammunition, using maneuver warfare instead;

-This requires long periods of complex training to be effective and is impractical for Ukrainian forces;

- The US is signaling that it is simply attempting to draw out the conflict for as long as possible;

References:

Reuters - NATO allies weigh more arms for Ukraine as Russian artillery batters Bakhmut (February 15, 2023):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/new-russian-offensive-underway-ukraine-says-nato-2023-02-13/
Guardian - Ukrainians blow up bridge in Bakhmut amid reports Russia closing in (February 13, 2023):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/14/ukrainians-blow-up-bridge-in-bakhmut-amid-reports-russia-closing-in
US Department of Defense - Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hold a Press Conference Following the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Brussels, Belgium (February 14, 2023):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3298235/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-and-army-gen-mark-a-milley-chairman-joi/
Washington Post - Ukraine live briefing: NATO meetings focus on weapons production; U.S. general says Russia ‘lost’ (February 15, 2023):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/02/15/russia-ukraine-war-latest-updates/
The Telegraph - US warns Ukraine it may not be able to continue 'same level' of support (February 14, 2023):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/14/us-warns-ukraine-may-not-able-continue-level-support/
Politico - U.S. focuses on training Ukrainian troops to use less ammo (February 14, 2023):
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/14/u-s-training-ukrainian-troops-use-less-ammo-00082765
Politico - U.S. tells Ukraine it won’t send long-range missiles because it has few to spare (February 13, 2023):
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/13/u-s-wont-send-long-range-missiles-ukraine-00082652

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