Ukrainian general explains the reason behind the Bakhmut standoff
The importance of Ukraine controlling the eastern city of Bakhmut “is constantly growing” because this prolonged resistance allows Kiev to weaken Moscow’s offensive capabilities, one of Ukraine’s senior military leaders said on March 9.
"The importance of controlling Bakhmut is increasing. Every day of defending the city allows us to gain more time to prepare our reserves and future offensives," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, said in a statement.
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Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut on March 9. Photo: Getty |
"In the fighting for this fortress, the enemy lost some of its best-trained and most combat-ready soldiers, the assault units of the private military company Wagner," said Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to the Commander of the Ukrainian Infantry, head of Wagner - Mr. Yevgeny Prigozhin said, if this force controls Bakhmut, Russia can launch a "large-scale attack" using ground and air units.
"This once again proves the importance of Bakhmut in our overall defense system. The battle for Bakhmut continues. I am proud of the courage and heroism of our soldiers who are holding back the enemy with their tenacity."
Meanwhile, on March 9, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Russia continued its attacks near the eastern front line in Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk. The Ukrainian military announced that its forces repelled Russian attacks on the villages of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Dubovo-Vasylivka in the northwest of Bakhmut, Ivanivske in the west and Oleksandro-Shultine in the southwest./.
