In a major escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Vladimir Putin's forces are closing in on the strategic city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, with both sides describing the battles there as the "last battles" of the war. What this really means is that the fate of the entire Donbas region could hinge on the outcome in Bakhmut, as Reuters reports.
A Symbolic and Strategic Prize
Bakhmut has become a symbolic and strategic prize in the war, with Russia desperate to capture the city after months of grinding, attritional battles. As the BBC notes, Russia views Bakhmut as a stepping stone to seizing the rest of the Donetsk region, which makes up half of the Donbas industrial heartland.
The bigger picture here is that if Russia can take Bakhmut, it would be a major psychological and morale victory for Putin, even as his forces continue to struggle elsewhere on the battlefield. It would also give Russia a potential launching pad for further offensives deeper into Ukrainian-held territory.
Ukraine Vows to Fight to the Last
For Ukraine, holding Bakhmut has become a matter of national pride and strategic necessity. As the New York Times reports, President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to fight to the last in Bakhmut, recognizing that the city's fall could have dire consequences for the rest of the Donbas front.
Ukraine's forces have put up a fierce resistance in Bakhmut, inflicting heavy casualties on the Russian attackers. But the relentless Russian bombardment and numerical superiority of Putin's troops mean the Ukrainian defenders are being slowly ground down.
The Battle for the Donbas
The outcome in Bakhmut could determine the course of the entire war in the Donbas. As The Guardian reports, Russia has made the capture of the Donbas region its main objective after failing to take Kyiv in the early stages of the invasion. If Bakhmut falls, it would open the door for Russia to potentially encircle and cut off Ukrainian forces further west.
However, Ukraine's resilience and the heavy losses inflicted on the Russian military mean that even a tactical victory in Bakhmut may not translate into a strategic one for Putin. The battle for the Donbas could stretch on for months, with neither side willing to back down in this critical phase of the war.