Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presents medals to soldiers near the Bakhmut frontline on March 22 (Photo: Reuters).
Reuters quoted a statement from the Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying that on March 22, he made a surprise visit to frontline positions near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk province, in the east of the country.
Video shared on social media showed Mr Zelensky, wearing a dark sweater and military khakis, handing out medals to soldiers at what appeared to be a large warehouse.
"I am honored to be here today to present medals to our heroes, to shake their hands and thank them for defending the sovereignty of the country. I bow to the heroes, to the comrades who fell on the Eastern Front or since the beginning of the war," Mr. Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Bakhmut is currently the fiercest front in the battle in Ukraine. Russia has been trying to gain control of the city for the past 8 months, but has not been able to achieve its goal. Meanwhile, Mr. Zelensky describes Bakhmut as a fortress, a symbol of Ukraine's persistent resistance.
Mr Zelensky's administration has said the Ukrainian military will defend Bakhmut for as long as possible to wear down Russian forces and give Kiev more time to gather resources for a counteroffensive expected in late spring or next summer.
Earlier this week, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military group Wagner, said that his forces and the Russian army controlled about 70% of Bakhmut.
Mr. Prigozhin also commented that Ukraine seems to have a counterattack plan in late March or early April to separate Wagner forces from the Russian army.
"The situation in Bakhmut is difficult, very difficult, the enemy is fighting for every meter of land. The closer we get to the city center, the fiercer the fighting, the more artillery and tanks are used against us. The Ukrainians continue to pour endless reinforcements into the battlefield," he admitted. Ukraine is believed to be maintaining about 10,000 troops in Bakhmut.
Yan Gagin, an adviser to the leader of the pro-Russian separatist government in Donetsk, announced today, March 22, that the Russian army has "completely surrounded" Bakhmut, and all roads leading to Bakhmut are within Moscow's fire range.
"The city is surrounded, which means that all roads, all the main traffic routes leading to Bakhmut are under our fire control. In theory, we can say that the city is blocked," said the Donetsk official.
Ukraine, on the other hand, insists it is still pushing back the enemy in Bakhmut and that supplies to troops holding out inside the city are continuing as normal. "We are still delivering the necessary ammunition, food, equipment and medicines to Bakhmut. We are also trying to evacuate the wounded from the city," military spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty said on March 18.
Bakhmut situation and the entire line as of March 8 (Graphic: AFP).
Source
Comment (0)