Zelensky: Situation in Bakhmut remains 'complicated'

The situation in Bakhmut remains "complicated" and is subject to change on a daily basis, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference in Warsaw on April 5.

The battle for Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk Oblast, has been raging for the past eight months. The Russian military is attempting to tighten its grip over the entirety of the Donbas region, which includes both Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have suffered heavy losses on the battlefield but Bakhmut remains in Ukrainian control, despite weeks of speculation that it was on the verge of falling.

While discussing the situation in Bakhmut during the press conference, Zelensky acknowledged the main thing for both him and Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, was to not lose too many personnel.

"If even heavier fighting arises, and there is a danger of losing personnel due to encirclement, the general will make corresponding correct decisions on the spot," Zelensky said.

Zelensky also emphasized that the sooner Ukraine receives the promised ammunition from its allies, the more effectively the Ukrainian military can defend not only Bakhmut but also the entire front line.

One night in Bakhmut: Civilians wait for the end as Russia draws closer

Editor’s Note: This piece tells the story of the lives of civilians and first responders in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, directly through the personal experience of a Kyiv Independent reporter who stayed overnight in the embattled city in January, traveling together with a colleague from Moldova. BAKHM…

Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell