Ukraine Latest: Zelenskiy Says Bakhmut Would Give Russia Opening
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who ordered his military commanders on Monday to summon more forces to defend Bakhmut, said in an interview that giving up the besieged city would give Russia an “open road” to capture cities in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said as much: that taking the city would let Kremlin forces push farther into Ukraine’s defenses, as he vowed to continue a months-long attack that’s shown limited results so far. Fewer than 4,000 civilians remain in Bakhmut, including 38 children, compared with a population of about 70,000 before the invasion, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.