Ukraine may soon lose Bakhmut as Russian troops seek to claim 1st major 'victory'

© Provided by India Today Ukraine may soon lose Bakhmut as Russian troops seek to claim 1st major 'victory'

Ukrainian forces are clinging to the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut for now, but they may lose the city as Russian troops have surrounded the city from three sides and by doing so, the latter has threatened two main roads that supply Ukrainian troops there.

If experts are to be believed, Ukraine might soon face a difficult decision to pull out of Bakhmut as time seems to be running out.

Russia says seizing Bakhmut would open the way to fully controlling the rest of the strategic Donbas industrial region bordering Russia, one of the main objectives of its invasion a year ago on February 24, reported Reuters. 

Ukraine said that Bakhmut put up a fierce resistance and had limited strategic value. Experts in Ukraine believe that the city cannot be defended forever. 

Ukrainian member of parliament, Serhiy Rakhmanin, said on Ukrainian NV radio on Wednesday, "I would not go as far as to say the situation is critical, but it is threatening." 

He said that he does not see defending Bakhmut at any cost as logical. However, he feels Bakhmut will be defended the moment with several aims - firstly, to inflict as many Russian losses as possible and make Russia use its ammunition and resources.

"No lines of defence should be allowed to collapse and there are two ways to approach this - an organised retreat or simple flight. And we cannot allow a flight to take place under any circumstances," said Rakhmanin. 

'UNDER CONTROL,' SAYS UKRAINE 

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on Wednesday, that the Russians were attempting to advance on Bakhmut "without interruption" and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his forces "are keeping each sector of the front under control."

A military statement said that the Russian forces were making preparations for new attacks in central Zaporizhzhia region and on the southern front in Kherson region. 

Thousands of civilians remain inside the ruined city of Bakhmut from a pre-war population of around 70,000, reported Reuters. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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