Ukraine vows to keep defending Bakhmut amid constant attacks by Russian forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country’s top military commanders have taken a vow to keep defending Bakhmut despite the “constant attacks” from Russian forces.
Russia is hoping to make its first major wartime gain in more than half a year by capturing Bakhmut and going further towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported on Monday that Bakhmut and surrounding areas were under “constant attacks” as “the enemy takes no account of losses.”
During his nightly address, Zelenskyy said the commander of the regional grouping and Ukraine’s commander in chief both told him that they will not withdraw their forces from the area and will strengthen defences. “I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut,” Zelenskyy was quoted by Reuters as saying.
According to a Reuters report, thousands of shells are fired from both sides every day along the eastern and southern fronts. Kyiv’s European allies are working on a deal to procure more ammunition.
On the other hand, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force, which is leading the Bakhmut assault, appealed to the regular army to supply him with more ammunition, reinforcements and covering support if he was to win the battle.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin’s appeal came amid an ongoing tussle between him and the Russian defence ministry. He had earlier accused the ministry of deliberately not sending enough ammunition, but the ministry had denied it.
In a statement, he said, “If everyone is coordinated, without ambition, screw-ups and tantrums, and carries out this work, then we will block the armed forces of Ukraine. If not, then everyone will be screwed.”
Meanwhile, as Bakhmut becomes the site of some of the bloodiest fighting since the war started more than a year ago, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said for the Russians, winning Bakhmut is “more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value”.