Battle for Bakhmut heats up as part of new Russian offensive against defending Ukrainian forces.

Even though Moscow wants to seize control of the entire Russian bordering Donbas region, Bakhmut, which has been under Russian artillery bombardment for eight months, has remained in Ukrainian hands.

While most of the recent fighting has taken place in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, the conflict escalating near Bakhmut shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desire for apparent victories after weeks of obvious failures.

Although they have made significant progress, the Russians still haven’t taken Bakhmut, according to Baig. “The Ukrainians claim to have successfully repelled those attacks.

By seizing Bakhmut, Russian forces would have access to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two important Ukrainian strongholds in the Donetsk province, while also cutting off Ukraine’s supply lines. Parts of Donetsk and the adjoining province of Luhansk have been under the hands of pro-Moscow rebels since 2014.

Putin acknowledged the independence of the self-declared republics supported by Russian forces before Russia invaded Ukraine in full on February 24. Russia illegally seized Donetsk, Luhansk, and two additional provinces that were partly or entirely controlled by Russian soldiers last month.

For more than five months, Russia has repeatedly pounded Bakhmut with rockets. After forcing the Ukrainians to retreat, its troops intensified the ground assault.

News Desk