Zelensky: “If the Russians seize Bakhmut, a wider corridor opens for attacks on other Ukrainian cities”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled that a Russian capture of the eastern city of Bakhmut could reshape the battlefield, potentially unlocking routes to additional Ukrainian urban centers that have become focal points in the ongoing conflict. He spoke in a broader interview with CNN, framing the situation as a strategic crossroads that would influence the progression of the war beyond Bakhmut itself.
In addressing the decision to keep Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut despite relentless pressure, Zelensky underscored the human and strategic stakes involved. The city, once home to roughly 70,000 residents, has seen its population plummet to fewer than 5,000 as civilians fled and battle lines shifted over time. He noted that the persistence of defense there reflects both the endurance of the Ukrainian people and the military calculation aimed at shaping the next phase of the conflict.
According to Zelensky, safeguarding Bakhmut is not merely a symbolic stand but a calculated move that serves broader military objectives. He pressed that the decision had unanimity among Ukraine’s top military commanders, who agreed on extending the city’s defenses after weeks of intense, unrelenting Russian assaults. The president emphasized that keeping forces in place is about preventing a collapse of morale and maintaining strategic leverage as efforts continue to deter further aggression and defend key eastern regions.
Observers note that the situation in Bakhmut has become a critical test of Ukraine’s ability to sustain long-term resistance in a high-cost, high-stakes setting. The balance between sustaining a stubborn defense and preserving the capacity to counterattack or shift focus to other fronts is at the heart of Kyiv’s approach. Zelensky’s comments reflect a broader message: that Ukrainian resolve, allied support, and renewed operational planning will determine whether Russian advances can be halted or redirected, even as winter conditions and terrain complicate planning on the ground. The interview with CNN helped illuminate how Kyiv interprets the battle’s outcome as a potential inflection point for the entire eastern theater. The president asserted that the defense of Bakhmut is connected to the larger objective of protecting Ukrainian sovereignty and deterring further incursions while awaiting decisive strategic turns from allied partners and the international community.