No One Knows If Decades-Old Nukes Would Actually Work
WiredDec 23, 2022
Day 370: Bakhmut Situation Growing 'More and More Difficult,' Says Zelenskyy
Image copyright: [via the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office]
The Facts
In his nightly address on Monday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his troops faced an increasingly precarious situation in the Donetsk city of Bakhmut, where fierce clashes for control of the city have been ongoing for several months. "The situation is getting more and more difficult," Zelenskyy said. "The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions, to gain a foothold and ensure defense."
The message was echoed by the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who on Tuesday described the situation as "extremely tense." He continued, saying: "Despite significant losses, the enemy threw in the most prepared assault units of Wagner, who are trying to break through the defences of our troops and surround the city."
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Russian forces are continuing to capture towns on the outskirts of Bakhmut and progressing with their plans of encircling the city. Its capture is important as it will pave the way to securing the rest of the Donetsk region.
Anti-Russia narrative
Fierce fighting has already been going on in Bakhmut for months and, even if Russia prevails, it will have lost so many men and so much equipment that the result could hardly be celebrated. A Moscow victory in the region might be a symbolic gain, but would provide little strategic benefit in the wider conflict.