Ukraine’s top military commanders have vowed to continue defending the besieged city of Bakhmut, where Russia hopes to make its first major wartime gain in more than a year, and to strengthen their defences, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
In the midst of some of the bloodiest fighting of the over-a-year-long invasion, Moscow says capturing the city would be a step towards capturing the entire territory of the surrounding Donbas region.
Late on Monday, the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported that the city and surrounding areas were under “constant attack” because “the enemy takes no account of losses.”
Following Russian gains in recent weeks, at the end of a winter offensive, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut, indicating a possible retreat.
However, late Monday, Zelenskiy stated that during a meeting of top military officials, he asked the commander of the regional grouping and Ukraine’s commander in chief how they intended to proceed.
“Both generals responded not to withdraw but to strengthen (our defences),” he said in his nightly address.
“I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut.”
With thousands of shells fired daily along the eastern and southern fronts, both sides’ artillery reserves have been depleted. Kyiv’s European allies are negotiating a deal to obtain additional ammunition for the fight.
The commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force, which is leading the Bakhmut assault, said on Monday that he needed more ammunition, reinforcements, and cover from the regular army if he was to win the battle.
The appeal from Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin came amid signs of a growing schism between him and the Russian defence ministry, which he has harshly criticised for months and accused of deliberately depriving his troops of ammunition, an allegation the ministry has denied.
“I’m knocking on all doors and sounding the alarm about ammunition and reinforcements, as well as the need to cover our flanks,” he said in a statement released by his press service.
“If everyone is coordinated, without ambition, screw-ups and tantrums, and carries out this work, then we will block the armed forces of Ukraine. If not, then everyone will be screwed.”
The Russian Ministry of Defence did not respond immediately.
Separately, according to two US lawmakers, Kyiv has broadened its request for controversial cluster bombs from the US to include a weapon that it wants to cannibalise in order to drop the anti-armor bomblets it contains on Russian forces from drones.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council stated that, while Ukraine and the White House “closely coordinate” on military aid, she had no “new capabilities to announce.”
