Russian forces have effectively blockaded Bakhmut. Yan Gagin, adviser to the head of state of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, said this to “Russia-1”.
He pointed out that the pro-Russian forces managed to control all paved roads and block the supply of ammunition to the Ukrainian army.
Earlier this month, Pushilin said there were no signs of Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Bakhmut, one of the key points of conflict between the two countries at the moment.
The months-long battle for Bakhmut, currently home to only about 5,000 of its 70,000 population, has been one of the bloodiest battles of attrition during the year-long Russian invasion. Bakhmut is not a very big city, but after months of efforts to hold it, it has a serious symbolic meaning for the Ukrainian army.
Taking Bakhmut would not only give Russian fighters a rare battlefield victory after months of setbacks, but could cut off Ukraine’s supply lines and allow Kremlin forces to advance on other Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donetsk region.
