Besieged for months by the Russian army, Bakhmout could be a prime target for Moscow in the coming hours, analyzes the Ukrainian general in charge of protecting the city.
Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Bakhmout in hopes of taking control of it by Tuesday, the Ukrainian general in charge of protecting the city besieged by the Russian army said on Sunday evening, adding that he would do everything to avoid such an outcome.
Tuesday, May 9, is one of the main national holidays in Russia, commemorating the victory over Germany in 1945.
“It is important to take decisions as quickly as possible and to anticipate the actions of the enemy,” General Oleksandre Syrskyi said via Telegram messenger after surrendering to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Bakhmout.
“The Russians still hope to take the city by May 9. Our mission is to prevent that,” he said, adding that the Russian military had stepped up shelling with heavy weapons and started using state-of-the-art equipment.
symbolic city
The city of Bakhmout has symbolic value for both sides. Moscow also sees it as a springboard for carrying out offensives against other Ukrainian cities, while preserving this front is considered by kyiv to be essential for launching a counter-offensive.
Contrary to what he had previously announced, the boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, working alongside Russian forces in Bakhmout, said on Sunday that he did not intend to withdraw from the city on Wednesday.
Wagner’s boss has for months accused the Russian general staff of not providing enough ammunition to his men to deprive them of a victory at Bakhmout, which would overshadow the regular army.
