The fight for Bakhmut, Ukraine, between Russia and Ukrainian forces has been waged for months and shows no signs of slowing down. In a Monday night address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the wishes of his top commanders that the defense operation and positions in Bakhmut be reinforced, rather than the forces withdrawn.

Russia’s aim to seize the entire Donetsk region looks to be a challenge, as Ukrainian losses have been high and the hand-to-hand combat exhausting. Despite this, Russia continues to send forward untrained recruits from their Wagner mercenary force that Ukrainian forces have to face.

Western specialists think a move to withdraw from Bakhmut would conserve troops and ammunition necessary for a counteroffensive planned for the spring. However, Kyiv took the stance that any gains made by the Russian forces would be seen as a major victory, and