Russia-Ukraine: An Update
Claims that Bakhmut has been seized by Russian control
P. P. Zhang
OVER A YEAR AGO, THE WORLD’S ATTENTION WAS SEIZED BY RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE. It was an escalation of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war that had begun in 2014. The invasion seems an eternity ago, and although the conflict has escaped the minds of many, the bloodshed in Ukraine never ceased. Of course, Russia’s initial decision to invade Ukraine arose from the latter’s membership in NATO, despite Russian demands for legal prohibitions against it. This led to the mobilisation of troops from both NATO as well as Russia and Belarus, which resulted in the situation today. As of Sunday, Russia claimed that the key city of Bakhmut has fallen to Russian control, following an eight-month assault. This would mark the first significant Russian victory in ten months, perhaps signifying some progress in their invasion attempt. However, the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the formal capture of the city, saying, “for today, it is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place”. Just days ago, the president claimed Ukraine would not only be able to withstand the Russian forces, but defeat them by the end of the year with Western help.
This help continues to come, following the recent G7 meeting in Hiroshima, during which US President Joe Biden announced a new military package to provide support. This military aid included fresh ammunition, artillery and armoured vehicles for Ukraine, to assist them on their planned counteroffensive in the following months. Furthermore, the States allowed Ukrainian pilots to train on American fighter-jets after months of lobbying from the nation. The other Group of 7 nations (consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States), have combined to place further sanctions on Russia, attempting to slow down its war effort, as well as similarly providing Ukraine with additional military support, with French president Emmanuel Macron tweeting “With each visit, Ukraine’s defence and offensive capabilities are expanding,” Unfortunately, these sanctions and push from the West have led to retaliation from Moscow, in the form of an increased military presence in the Black Sea, threatening to hit Ukraine with more missile strikes potentially in the future.
Russia’s claim about the fall of Bakhmut has significant implications for the future of the war. Ukraine’s fear is that Russia’s elevated position would lead to an ability to rally international support for a deal that Kyiv cannot compromise for. Furthermore, the geopolitical position of the historical salt-mining city gives Russia the opportunity to launch new tactical offensives and strategies. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu commented that seizing the city would allow the offensive to push further into the Donetsk region, a key Ukrainian province that Putin illegally annexed in September last year. Bakhmut remains the bloodiest battle of the war yet, with several thousand deaths estimated from each side. As the world watches with bated breath, the future of the conflict is unclear, so too, the number of lives that will be lost and ultimately the outcome of the war.
