Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine cannot give up on holding Bakhmut, as its conquest by Russian forces could allow them to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region.
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Ukraine cannot give up on holding Bakhmut because this would expand the battle front and give Russian forces and Wagner a chance to seize more Ukrainian lands
If Russia captures Bakhmut, it could be used as a stepping-stone to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk
Russian President Vladimir Putin is fighting for his life in Ukraine, not for his country
Azamat Uldarov admitted to shooting a child and orders to kill civilians in Donetsk Oblast.
Aleksei Savichev confirmed similar orders to kill civilians.
It is impossible for us to give up on Bakhmut because this will [help] expand the battlefront and give the Russian forces and Wagner chances to seize more of our lands
Fierce battles are ongoing. There is no encirclement.
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Extraction metadata
Extracted: 2026-05-30T04:21:04.851Z
Source story: 7399116