Kyiv Vows to Recover Besieged Bakhmut Amid Fears of Wider Escalation

Kyiv Vows to Recover Besieged Bakhmut Amid Fears of Wider Escalation
Ukrainian servicemen fire a M777 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on March 17, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images
Adam Morrow
Updated:

Ukrainian military officials have confirmed plans to launch a major counteroffensive to recover the strategic city of Bakhmut, a vital Ukrainian transport hub in the eastern Donetsk region.

The scene of fierce ground fighting for several months, Bakhmut is largely surrounded by Russian forces, although a substantial number of Ukrainian troops remain in the city.