The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyy and the Commander of the Khortytsya Operational and Strategic Group of Troops Oleksandr Syrskyy supported the continuation of the defence operation and further strengthening of Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut, the President of Ukraine's website reports following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff.
“The members of the Staff reviewed the situation in Bakhmut in particular detail. Assessing the course of the defence operation, the President asked Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyy and Commander of the Khortytsya operational and strategic group of troops Oleksandr Syrskyyabout further actions in the Bakhmut direction. They spoke in favour of continuing the defence operation and further strengthening our positions in Bakhmut,” the message reads.
The meeting also addressed the supply of weapons and equipment and their distribution by operational areas.
The Russians have been trying to capture Bakhmut for many months. In particular, mercenaries of the Wagner PMC are fighting against the defence forces there, and they are not allowed to leave the battlefield under the penalty of being shot by their own colleagues. Recently, due to the losses of Wagnerites in the Bakhmut area, Moscow has had to replace them with army soldiers.
The other day, the American Institute for the Study of War wrote that Ukraine is likely creating conditions for a controlled withdrawal of its forces from Bakhmut. A few days ago, there were also reports that one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units was allegedly leaving the town.