Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured on Wednesday that Ukrainian soldiers are “firmly” holding their positions in Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, where the situation is “hardest” when confronted by Russian troops.
“It’s the toughest, hottest situation right now”declared the Ukrainian head of state during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who traveled to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, this Wednesday.
“It’s not easy for our soldiers in the east, but that’s an understatement when we talk about ‘Bakhmut Fortress’. Our fortress is alive”he continued, paying tribute to the Ukrainian soldiers who are “holding tight” to their positions.
Zelensky also pointed to the town of Vougledar, south of Bakhmut, in the same Donetsk province, as a hot spot, where the Russians have recorded ground advances.
On Tuesday night, Volodymyr Zelensky already admitted that there is an “extremely difficult” situation in Bakhmut, where main clashes have been concentrated for several months and where Russian forces have made some progress in recent weeks.
The Swedish Prime Minister, in turn, said that Stockholm will continue to support Ukraine “as much as possible”.
At a time when Kiev is urgently requesting fighter jets, Kristersson said “nothing is out of the question” but underlined that these deliveries must be made within the framework of an “international coalition”.
In recent days, fighting has also intensified in Lugansk province, also located in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
This Wednesday, the Ukrainian governor of Lugansk, Serguii Gaidai, pointed to a “worsening” of the situation, particularly around the cities of Kreminna and Bilogorivka, where the Russian army is attacking for “vacancies” with the support of aviation.
In Pokrovsk, a city in the east furthest from the front line, a residential building was hit by attacks on Wednesday morning, leaving at least one dead and 12 injured, according to Ukrainian emergency services.
“At least two other people are still under the rubble”said the same source in a post published on the Telegram platform.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
