Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), told the BBC that Russians are trying to capture Bakhmut by the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The NSDC Secretary commented on forecasts of a new major Russian offensive against Ukraine.
He emphasized that Russia's offensive had begun on 24 February 2022, and had not stopped since then, but admitted that the fighting in Donbas had now intensified.
"They are intensifying their actions, it's been going on for some time, they are trying to find weaknesses in our defence, they have now concentrated a huge number of military and weapons in Donetsk Region, near Bakhmut. But I am sure that we have to rebuff them, no matter how difficult it is," he said.
According to Danilov, Russia is trying to take Bakhmut on the anniversary of the war on 24 February.
"They promised to give this town to Putin on his birthday on 7 October. It didn't happen, something else happened in Crimea, the explosions. This country lives by anniversaries and dates, Russia is a necrophiliac country, for them, people are worthless when alive. But when they die, they should be honoured," Danilov explained the reference to 24 February.
Yesterday, on 15 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the situation in the Bakhmut area was the most difficult of the entire frontline. It is also extremely challenging in the Vuhledar area.