Zelensky vows not to withdraw from Bakhmut

CHASIV YAR, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Monday not to withdraw from Bakhmut as Russian forces closed in on the devastated eastern city, which they had been trying to capture for six months at the cost of thousands of lives.

Less than a week ago, an adviser to Zelenskyy said the defenders could cede the city and fall back to nearby positions.

But Zelenskyy chaired a meeting on Monday in which military commanders “spoke in favor of maintaining the defense operation and strengthening our positions in Bakhmut”. Hours later, during his late-night video address, the president reported that his advisers had unanimously agreed to continue the fighting, ‘not to retreat’ and to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. .

His top adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces around Bakhmut have exhausted enemy forces, reinforcing their positions and training tens of thousands of Ukrainian military elements for a possible counteroffensive.

Russia launched heavy artillery attacks on the Donetsk region city and nearby towns, part of a three-pronged offensive to try to end Bakhmut’s resistance.

The nearby towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka came under heavy attack, damaging vehicles and residences and starting a fire. So far, no casualties have been reported.

Police and volunteers evacuated people from Chasiv Yar and other battlefront towns in an operation that was complicated by the loss of bridges and constant artillery attacks, which destroyed virtually all homes of the region.

The Russian forces were unable to strike a definitive blow allowing them to capture Bakhmut. According to analysts, the city does not have great strategic value and its fall should not lead to a turning point in the conflict.

The Russian offensive for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin’s broader problems with gaining ground on the battlefield. The invasion launched by Moscow on February 24, 2022 quickly stalled and Ukraine launched a largely successful counter-offensive. During the harsh winter months, fighting was virtually paralyzed.

The importance of the city has become symbolic. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, a triumph in Bakhmut would finally bring good news from the front. For Kyiv, the display of courage and bravery underscores the message that Ukraine is still standing after a year of brutal attacks, warranting continued support from its Western allies.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin backed that position on Monday, saying during a visit to Jordan that Bakhmut had “more symbolic value than strategic and operational”.

He added that Moscow continues to “rely on many poorly trained and ill-equipped soldiers” in Bakhmut, while Ukraine patiently builds “combat power” elsewhere with Western military support ahead of a possible spring offensive.