Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the eastern city of Bakhmut is “our fortress” as Russian forces claimed control of it and nearby settlements on Wednesday.
In his nightly address, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian fighters were holding out in the city, which has been the target of relentless Russian attacks for months.
“The enemy is concentrating its greatest efforts on breaking through our defenses there. And there, in Bakhmut, there is a special hell right now — there are no words to describe it,” he said.
Russia’s defense ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had “liberated” the village of Krasna Hora on the northern outskirts of Bakhmut and were fighting to take control of the city center.
The ministry also claimed that Russian forces had captured the village of Paraskoviivka, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Bakhmut.
If confirmed, the capture of Bakhmut would be a significant victory for Russia, as it would give Moscow control of a key transportation hub in eastern Ukraine.
However, Ukrainian officials have denied that Russian forces have taken control of the city, and fighting is still ongoing.
The battle for Bakhmut has been one of the bloodiest of the war, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
The city has been largely destroyed by Russian shelling, and most of its residents have fled.
Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian forces would continue to fight for Bakhmut, which he described as a “fortress.”
“We will do everything to hold it,” he said.
The battle for Bakhmut is part of a larger Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces have been trying to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, which are located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Bakhmut.
If Russia captures Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, it will control a large swath of territory in eastern Ukraine and will be able to threaten the major Ukrainian city of Sloviansk.
The war in Ukraine has been going on for more than a year, and there is no end in sight.
More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, and thousands have been killed.
The war has also had a devastating impact on the Ukrainian economy.
The international community has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has imposed sanctions on Moscow.
However, Russia has shown no signs of backing down, and the war is likely to continue for some time to come..
