Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The Embassy

Bakhmut: Ukraine Seems Determined To Make Sure Russia Won’t Win

Ukraine M777. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
On Friday, Canada joined France in announcing the delivery of heavy artillery to Ukraine.

Is This the Reason Ukraine May Not Withdraw From Bakhmut After All? – After it seemed almost inevitable that Ukrainian forces would leave the Donetsk city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian officials said on Monday that the country’s military leaders are determined to maintain a military presence and prevent Russia from taking control of the region.

The news comes as Russian forces effectively encircle the entire city and have cut off Ukraine’s crucial supply routes. 

What is Ukraine’s Bakhmut Strategy? 

The battle, which has been raging for six months, would be Russia’s first major victory for months – which is likely the reason why Russian military leaders have allowed the fighting to continue despite catastrophic losses on both sides.

Bakhmut technically wouldn’t offer Russia a major strategic advantage should they take control of the city, but it would give Putin something to present to the Russian people as a victory. 

Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko noted how Russian forces continue to bombard the region “around the clock,” with more troops and more resources being sent in every day.

“Civilians are fleeing the region to escape Russian shelling continuing round the clock as additional Russian troops and weapons are being deployed there,” Kyrylenko said. 

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy also confirmed that he and his military commanders had agreed to strengthen their defense in the city.

For Ukraine, the symbolic loss of control of Bakhmut is as significant as the symbolic win would be for Russia.

Wagner Chief Doesn’t Believe Russia Is Sending Sufficient Resources

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian paramilitary organization the Wagner Group, claimed over the weekend that Russia isn’t sending the resources troops need to achieve their goal in Bakhmut.

Writing on social media on Sunday, Prigozhin claimed that papers had been signed on February 22 confirming that ammunition would be sent to Bakhmut the following day, allowing his private troops as well as Russian soldiers to continue their offensive in the region. 

The comments follow months of public disagreements between the Kremlin and Prigozhin. 

On Monday, Prigozhin also revealed that one of his officials was unable to access the Russian military command headquarters.

Prigozhin’s comments could offer hope for the Ukrainian military, which is now conducting a “limited” withdrawal, according to the Institute for the Study of War, rather than a full withdrawal from the city entirely. 

MORE: Watch This – Video Shows Ukraine Destroying One Of Russia’s Best ‘Big Guns’

MORE: Video: Watch Ukraine Kill Russia’s Powerhouse T-90M Tank

MORE: The End For Donald Trump Might Finally Have Arrived

Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.

Written By

Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive's Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.

Advertisement