The Ukrainian armed forces pledged not to surrender in the eastern city of Bakhmut on Tuesday as they prepared to launch a counter-offensive against Russian forces.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, stressed the importance Kiev attaches to keeping Bakhmut as it continues preparations for a counterattack it hopes will change the dynamics of the war in Ukraine.
The battle for Bakhmut holds symbolic importance for both sides, with Ukraine still holding parts of the city after months of fierce fighting against regular Russian troops and fighters from the Wagner mercenary force.
“Together with the commanders, we have made a number of necessary decisions aimed at ensuring effective defense and inflicting maximum losses on the enemy,” Syrskyi said in a commentary released after a visit to troops fighting in Bakhmut.
“We will continue, despite all predictions and advice, to defend Bakhmut, destroying Wagner and other more combat-capable units of the Russian army,” he told soldiers in a video of his visit. “We are giving our reserves an opportunity to prepare and are preparing for further action.”
Syrskyi said on Monday that Ukrainian units had driven Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut. The Wagner Group claimed its units had made incremental progress there. Reuters could not verify the situation on the battlefield.
Russia sees Bakhmut, once home to 70,000 people, as an impetus to attack other Ukrainian cities.
Kiev is expected to launch its counter-offensive soon, hoping to recapture the territory occupied by Russian forces after the February 2022 invasion.
The White House said on Monday that Russia has depleted its military stockpiles and armed forces, with an estimated 100,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine over the past five months.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the White House numbers.
Source: Terra
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