Zelensky talks about why it is important to hold Bakhmut
Russian troops will have an "open path" to seize key towns in eastern Ukraine if they take control of Bakhmut.
Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with CNN:
We understand that after Bakhmut they could go further. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Slavyansk, it would be an open road for Russians after Bakhmut to other Ukrainian cities on the Donetsk direction. They could go to Kramatorsk, Slavyansk. So our guys stand.
The President also said:
We understand what Russia wants to achieve there. Russia needs at least some kind of victory - a small victory - even by destroying everything in Bakhmut, just by killing all the civilians there.
At the same time, a representative of the Eastern Group of Forces, Sergey Cherevaty, said that Bakhmut remains the epicentre of hostilities:
The enemy lost 244 occupants killed, 315 were wounded to varying degrees," Cherevaty said.