The Ukrainian army plans to strengthen its positions in Bachmut, the city that is the centre of the fighting with Russian troops. The Ukrainian presidency announced this on Monday.
In recent days, there has been speculation about a possible withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the city.
The commanders-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, “expressed themselves in favour of continuing the defensive operation and strengthening our positions in Bachmut,” a statement said.
Russia has been trying since the summer of last year to conquer Bachmut, a city in eastern Ukraine that had about 70,000 inhabitants before the Russian invasion. Moscow and Kyiv troops suffered heavy casualties.
In recent days, Russian troops, with the help of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group, have advanced further. They threaten to surround the city, but Ukraine stubbornly defends Bachmoth.