On Wednesday, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted that Ukrainian forces may be withdrawn from the city of Bakhmut following weeks of intense fighting.
Alexander Rodnyansky said that Ukrainian forces would retreat from the city, but only if they believe that the cost of holding the city outweighed the benefits.
Rodnyansky made the comments in an interview with CNN, adding that Russian forces have lost so many troops in attempting to take control of the city that continued aggression no longer makes any sense to Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also seemed to indicate that Ukrainian forces may possibly withdraw from the embattled city, describing in his nightly address on February 27 a gradually worsening situation on the ground.
“The enemy is gradually destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions, for reinforcement and defense,” Zelenskyy said.
Nonetheless, Russian bombardment continues in Bakhmut and Ukrainian forces aren’t set to withdraw just yet.
What Wagner Group Is Saying
In an audio clip shared on social media, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia’s paramilitary organization Wagner, can be heard denying Russian reports that the Ukrainian military has already begun withdrawing from Bakhmut.
In the clip, Prigozhin insists that tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers remain in Bakhmut, and reserves are also being called up to support them.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine are bringing up new reserves in Bakhmut,” Prigozhin says, adding that they are “trying to hold the city by all means.”
“Tens of thousands of Ukrainian army fighters are fiercely resisting, t he bloodiness of battles increases every day,” the one-time Putin ally explained, adding that he is unaware of any evidence that the Russian newspapers’ claims are true.
“I don’t know why anyone writes this,” he said.
Ukraine Confirms Reinforcements Are on Their Way
A senior Ukrainian official confirmed on Wednesday that reinforcements are on their way to Bakhmut, suggesting that Kyiv remains committed to controlling the strategically important city of Bakhmut.
Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told national television that the soldiers are on their way, but did not confirm how many troops will be sent.
The reinforcements could prove hugely valuable to the Ukrainian troops that have held out in the region for several months already, though technically they could also be used to provide support in a withdrawal.
The Battle for Bakhmut may ultimately be decided on which side decides the losses are no longer worth it, first.
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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.
