President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that those responsible for the death of an unarmed Ukrainian soldier would be apprehended.
Monday's remarks were made in reaction to a video showing an unarmed Ukrainian soldier smoking a cigarette in what looks to be a battle position.
Zelensky Reacts to Soldier's Death in Brutal Video
The man is then seen removing the cigarette from his lips, exhaling the smoke, and exclaiming "Slava Ukraini" (Glory to Ukraine) before fighters off camera fire multiple bullets at him.
Zelensky stated that Ukraine would never forget those who had sacrificed their lives for the nation and praised those now serving on the front lines. Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, accused Russia and stated that it was more evidence that Moscow's invasion was "genocidal."
Per CNN, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament, Dmytro Lubinets, shared the footage with foreign partners as "proof of yet another Russian war crime."
Despite substantial evidence to the contrary, Russia has persistently rejected charges that it or its forces committed war crimes during what it terms a "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Ukraine has promised to defend "Fortress Bakhmut," which Russian forces appear intent on capturing. According to experts, the city, which the conflict has nearly annihilated, has little strategic relevance.
But, as the longest and bloodiest fight of the conflict continues, its outcome has taken on greater symbolic significance than military significance. Donetsk and Lugansk make up the Donbas, which Russia claims to have annexed despite never having had complete authority over them.
According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian army had "repelled attacks, devastated the occupation, weakened enemy positions and logistics, and secured our borders and cities."
However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) of the United States cautioned that Ukrainian supply lines to Bakhmut were shrinking. Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk area released a video purporting to show Wagner forces seizing control of the Stupki train station in the suburbs north of Bakhmut.
Wagner, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has taken center stage in the battle for the city, exposing rivalries with Russia's conventional troops. Early on Friday, Prigozhin reported that his forces had "practically surrounded" Bakhmut, leaving only one road under Ukrainian control, according to NDTV.
Prigozhin, who has been publicizing his men's advances into the eastern city for weeks, appeared on social media on Saturday, standing next to what he claimed were coffins holding the dead of Ukrainian soldiers being transported to an area under Kyiv's control.
In contrast to Russian generals criticized for avoiding the front line, Prigozhin frequently publishes footage showing himself alongside mercenaries on the ground and in fighter jets.
Russia-Ukraine War Update
In a rare occurrence, Russia broadcast a video of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspecting Ukrainian frontline soldiers on Saturday. The ministry needed to identify where or when Shoigu inspected an advanced command post in the direction of South Donetsk.
He was observed traveling by chopper and spoke with a soldier in front of destroyed structures. According to the ISW think group, Shoigu visited the region "presumably to assess the degree of Russian casualties surrounding Vugledar and the prospect of a further attack in this direction."
Less than a week ago, Zelensky's advisor suggested that the defenders of Bakhmut may evacuate to adjacent positions. His office stated that on Monday, Zelensky presided over a meeting at which senior military leaders "expressed in favor of continuing the defense operation and significantly reinforcing our positions in Bakhmut."
In his evening video, the president stated that his advisors unanimously decided to continue the war, "not retreat," and strengthen the Ukrainian defenses. Moscow launched a three-pronged attack to end Bakhmut's resistance, during which it bombarded the Donetsk area city and adjacent settlements with heavy artillery fire.
Russian soldiers have been unable to deliver the decisive blow necessary to take Bakhmut. According to analysts, it lacks significant strategic importance, and its capture is unlikely to mark a turning point in the fight.
The Russian assault on Bakhmut is emblematic of the Kremlin's wider efforts to gain battlefield momentum. The full-scale invasion started by Russia on February 24, 2022, quickly halted, and Ukraine mounted a generally effective counteroffensive.
Throughout the very frigid winter months, the combat has been essentially stagnant. The city's significance is now primarily symbolic. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, victory would finally bring good news from the front lines, as per Daily Mail.
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