KYIV Fierce fighting was raging for control of the centre of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the longest-running and bloodiest battle of the war, the Ukrainian military and the Wagner Group said on Monday.
"Wagner assault units are advancing from several directions, trying to break through our troops' defensive positions and move to the centre of the city. In fierce battles, our defenders are inflicting significant losses on the enemy," the Ukrainian military said in a morning briefing, referring to the Russian mercenary group that has claimed to be leading Moscow's offensive.
Wagner, meanwhile, said the Ukrainian forces were "battling for every metre".
Analysts are divided over the strategic significance of Bakhmut as a military prize.
But the city has gained important political stature, with both sides pouring significant resources into the fight. It has become the main focus of a Russian winter campaign involving hundreds of thousands of freshly conscripted reservists and mercenaries.
This story is from the March 14, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the March 14, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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