Moscow [Russia], March 7: The Ukrainian military said the city of Bakhmut and surrounding areas were under "continuous attack" by Russian forces.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said late on Friday that the eastern city of Bakhmut and its surrounding areas were under "constant attack" because of "the enemy despite losses," according to Reuters.
Also on March 6, CNN quoted an unnamed NATO military official as saying that the Russian military had lost at least five servicemen to each Ukrainian soldier defending Bakhmut. The official told CNN that the 5:1 ratio is an estimate based on coalition intelligence, adding that Ukraine has also suffered significant losses on the Bakhmut frontline.
After Russian forces made advances in Bakhmut in recent weeks, during the height of the winter offensive, the Ukrainian army consolidated positions west of Bakhmut in what appeared to be an a possible retreat, according to Reuters.
However, late on March 6, President Zelensky said that at a meeting of top military officials, he asked the commander of the group in charge of the region and the commander-in-chief of Ukraine on how they proposed to proceed.
"Both generals responded by not withdrawing, but strengthening (Ukraine's defenses). I told the commander-in-chief to find the right forces to help our people in Bakhmut," Zelensky said. said in his nightly speech.
There is currently no information on Russia's response to the new statements made by the Ukrainian side as well as the damage assessment of the NATO military official.
Earlier, on March 2, Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation at the talks on military security and arms control in Vienna, said that Russian forces "are advancing and Bakhmut will certainly be defeated. control in the near future because the encirclement is closing," according to TASS news agency.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
