[ad_1]
WAR: The battle for Bakhmut, a devastated city in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, has become a focal point of the war as both sides have poured troops into the battle and suffered heavy casualties. Bakhmut is seen as a stepping stone for President Vladimir V. Putin’s goal of seizing all of Donbas, while for Ukraine it has become a symbol of resistance. This year, Russia captured towns and villages north and south of Bakhmut, entering the city itself and forcing Ukraine to defend a shrinking slice of the city, amid signs Ukraine could be forced to retreat.
LATEST: Both sides have cited benefits in recent times, although these claims are verifiable. The commander of the eastern forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky, said in reported comments on Monday that the Russians were forced to withdraw from “some positions in some urban areas.” On Saturday, a Ukrainian army spokesman said that Russian forces were unable to capture the main road running west to the town of Chasiv Yar, which Kyiv forces use to deliver reinforcements and supplies.
In contrast, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner militia that has led many Russian battles in Bakhmut, said at the weekend that Russian forces have advanced hundreds of yards in several directions, leaving Ukraine in control of the ground equivalent to only a few city blocks. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that its air force and assault units attacked Ukrainian forces back in the western part of the city.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: Amid rival claims, the battle for Bakhmut, which began last summer, continues to draw huge resources on both sides, but the Russians have been unable to take control of the city. With Ukraine soon to launch a counteroffensive to recapture territory it controls, independent military analysts say the plan could include a new push in Bakhmut.
[ad_2]
Source link