The situation is “extremely difficult” facing Russian troops, said Volodymyr Zelensky in his speech on Tuesday. Vladimir Putin’s army is regaining ground, especially near Bakhmout.
“It’s literally a battle for every meter of Ukrainian land.” In his daily address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on a situation on the front line which “remains extremely difficult” in the east of the country.
Almost a year after the start of the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s army continues to fight on the front lines. For several days already, it has regained ground. Especially near Bakhmout, the epicenter of clashes for several months.
“The situation on the front line, particularly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, remains extremely difficult,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“We have to understand the meaning of these battles. Every meter won there is a defense of our whole country,” he said.
Strong resistance in Bakhmout
“Bakhmut will not be taken tomorrow, because there is a strong resistance, a shelling, the meat grinder is in action”, admitted the head of the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner, Evguéni Prigojine, whose men are in front line in this battle.
Present at the meeting with Westerners on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov insisted in his own way on the request for fighter planes for Kiev by smoothing out in front of the cameras a scarf worn in a pocket on which one of these aircraft was drawn .
“He is in his role but the Ukrainians know very well that it will take at least a year to get them,” said one of the participants.
“Everyone understands that the issue of air defense and the issue of ammunition resupply are much more important at the moment than the discussion about combat aircraft,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
