Bakhmut remains “the most difficult situation” facing Ukrainian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. “Russia does not count people at all, sending them to constantly storm our positions. The intensity of fighting is only increasing.”
(Bloomberg) — Bakhmut remains “the most difficult situation” facing Ukrainian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. “Russia does not count people at all, sending them to constantly storm our positions. The intensity of fighting is only increasing.”
Ukraine has decided to send additional troops to Bakhmut as Russian forces focus efforts on the offensive there, aiming to reach the administrative borders of the Donetsk region, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said.
Overnight, Russia again attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made single use drones, with four Shaheds launched from the north and Ukrainian air force shooting down all of them.
(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)
Key Developments
- Ukraine Signals It May Be Forced to Abandon Bakhmut to Russians
- India Pushes Russia, China to Join G-20 Consensus on War Wording
- Russian War Unravels Consumer Economy in Ways Pandemic Never Did
- Russia’s Viasat Hack Exposed Satellite Industry’s Security Flaws
- It’s Not Ukraine’s Peace-for-Our-Time Moment: Leonid Bershidsky
(All times CET)
Ukraine to Send Additional troops to Bakhmut (8:10 a.m.)
The decision was taken by the top commander in charge of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, during his visit to the city at the end of last week, Malyar said on television late Tuesday.
Russia suffers significant troop losses in the area, even as its forces outnumber Ukraine’s, she said. Zelenskiy has said previously that Ukrainian forces would not hold Bakhmut “at any cost and with everyone dying.”
In his nightly address, Zelenskiy said Ukraine is “preparing for the return of our warriors to actions for the liberation of our land,” after he recounted details of a regular meeting earlier with his top military commanders on the situation across the whole of the front.
Russia Toughens Penalties for Criticism of War (8:00 a.m.)
Russia is introducing stricter punishment for critics of its war in Ukraine, threatening up to 15 years in prison for spreading “fake” information or publicly discrediting participants in the invasion — including for the first time irregular volunteer forces.
The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the new penalties should receive approval in the chamber on March 14 in a statement on his Telegram channel.
Under current legislation passed soon after last year’s invasion began, those convicted of spreading “fake” news about the Russian armed forces face up to 10 years in jail, or 15 years if their action has “grave consequences.”
Baerbock Warns China on Drone Exports (4:15 a.m.)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Chinese drone exports to Russia would violate international law. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has a special responsibility, Baerbock told public broadcaster ARD.
That means China “may not send drones to an aggressor, a state, a president, who leads a war of aggression which violates international law,” she said. “We are investigating that and make clear every day that such a support is not within the framework of international law.”
Transnistria Calls Up Reservists for Training (4:15 a.m.)
Defense officials in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria called up reservists for three months of training starting Wednesday, according to Russian state media.
The separatist region hosts Russian military units and Soviet-era ammunition depots. Moldovan President Maia Sandu last month called for “maximum vigilance” after she cited accused Russia of planning to destabilize the country and overthrow her government.
The announcement in Transnistria suggests participation in the drills is voluntary. The last time such training was conducted was in April.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.