President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine discussed the potential removal of Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut, stating that “the right decisions” will be made if personnel are at risk due to encirclement. At a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Zelensky’s comments were reported by Strana.UA. Fighting for Bakhmut has been ongoing since the summer of 2022, and Zelensky has previously stated that defending the city is important for Ukraine but not at any cost. Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed that his fighters now control around 70% of the city, and the White House has reported “very, very fierce fighting” continuing in Bakhmut amid Prigozhin’s claims of legal control. Olesya Pavlenko authored this report, available in full on “Kommersant” online broadcast.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke regarding the possible withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Bakhmut. According to the president, if there is a threat of loss of personnel due to the encirclement, “the right decisions” will be made.
“If there is a threat of loss of personnel due to the encirclement, the “right decisions” will be made,” Mr. Zelensky said at a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda (quote from Strana.UA).
The battles for Bakhmut have been going on since the summer of 2022. In February of this year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that it was important for Ukraine to defend Bakhmut, but not at any cost. The founder of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that his fighters control regarding 70% of the city.
This week, Mr. Prigozhin said that PMC Wagner managed to “legally” establish control over Bakhmut. He claims that a Russian flag was installed on the building of the city administration. Commenting on his statement, the White House said that “very, very fierce fighting” continues in Bakhmut.
What happens following the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine – in the online broadcast “Kommersant”.
The situation in Bakhmut remains tense as Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces continue to engage in fierce fighting. The possible withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the area has been discussed by President Zelensky, but only if there is a threat of significant loss of personnel. The founder of the Wagner PMC claims that his fighters have established control over the city, while the White House confirms ongoing conflict. The future of Bakhmut remains uncertain, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating.