US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday that the city of Bakhmut was more symbolic than operational, and its fall would not necessarily mean that Moscow had regained momentum in its military efforts.
He said this during a visit to Jordan, reports "Europeyska Pravda" with reference to Reuters.
"I think it's more symbolic than strategic and operational," Austin told reporters, adding that he wouldn't venture to predict whether or when Bakhmut would be captured by Russian forces.
"The fall of Bakhmut will not necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the course of this struggle," Austin added.
We will remind, Major General of the Armed Forces of Austria Bruno Hofbauer believes that the city of Bachmut will not fall in the near future.
British intelligence reported on March 4 that the Ukrainian defenses of the city of Bakhmut in Donbas are under increasing pressure, and intense fighting is taking place in the city and its surroundings.
