Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a CNN interview aired on Wednesday that the Russian army would have “free chance” to seize towns in eastern Ukraine if Bakhmout, the epicenter of particularly deadly fighting for months, is taken.
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“We understand that they could go further after Bakhmout. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Sloviansk, the way would be free for Russians (…) to other cities in Ukraine,” he told CNN.
“For us it is of strategic importance,” stressed the Ukrainian president, stressing that his troops are determined to defend the city.
The Russian army promised to capture Bakhmout, considering the city vital to continue their offensive, despite the Ukrainians’ fierce defenses.
Bakhmout “is an important node (of the lines) of defense of Ukrainian soldiers in Donbass,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
“His capture will allow new offensive operations to be carried out in depth,” he added during a meeting.
But Ukraine’s president told CNN his forces were determined to remain in Bakhmut.
“Yesterday I had a meeting with the Chief of General Staff and the top military commanders (…) and they all said that we must remain strong in Bakhmut,” he specified in this exclusive interview.
“Of course we have to think about the lives of our soldiers. But we must do what we can while we obtain weapons and supplies and our army prepares for the counteroffensive.”
While the strategic value of Bakhmout is debatable, the city has acquired symbolic and tactical importance given the heavy casualties suffered by both sides. It is the longest and deadliest battle since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
The city, which had a population of barely 4,000 versus 70,000 before the invasion, was largely destroyed.