The most difficult and hottest situation today is in the Bakhmut and Ugledar areas, but the Ukrainian soldiers are holding on and inflicting maximum losses on the enemy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi emphasized this during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Kyiv, Ukrinform reports.
"The most difficult of all the situations that exist on the territory of our state, the most difficult and the hottest in that direction. I would also add the Vugledarsky direction to it," Zelenskyi said.
The head of state emphasized that in general it is not easy in the east of Ukraine, but, according to him, it is not for nothing that Bakhmut is called a fortress.
"Unfortunately, the fortress is alive, alive, I mean, from living people, such a living wall. This war is so expensive for the history of our state. But, despite all this, people are strong, defend themselves firmly, stand, understand that they are the strength of , so that Ukraine prepares for the de-occupation of all territories, they stand firm, fulfill their task and destroy, probably, this is the most important thing today - destroy as much of the enemy as possible," Zelenskyi said.
The president added that he is in constant contact with all commanders.
"It's hard, they're holding on," Zelenskyi said.
Meanwhile, experts note that the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut is exhausting significant Russian forces and this will probably create favorable conditions for a future counteroffensive by Kyiv.
This is stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts mentioned the material of The Washington Post, in which it is said that the Administration of the President of the United States warned Kyiv that the coming months will be decisive in the Russian-Ukrainian war. However, there they warn Ukraine that so much American aid will not come forever.
In addition, the article states that American military analysts consider it unrealistic to simultaneously defend Bakhmut and launch a spring counteroffensive. At the same time, US officials call on Ukraine to make it a priority to determine the timing and scale of the counteroffensive.
However, ISW continues to assess the defense of Bakhmut as "probably a strategically sound effort, despite losses to Ukraine."
To support the offensive on Bakhmut, the Kremlin transferred the "Wagnerians" and airborne troops. Ukraine is exhausting these forces with its defense, and this will probably create conditions for a future counteroffensive.
"If Russian troops occupied Bakhmut without significant resistance from Ukraine, they could hope to expand their actions in such a way as to force Ukraine to hastily build defensive positions on less favorable terrain," the analysts note.
Therefore, according to ISW's assessment, the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut and attempts to create conditions for a counteroffensive appear to be complementary rather than mutually exclusive actions. After all, the Russian troops continued the offensive after Bakhmut, if Ukraine quickly surrendered the city.
