3:48 p.m. ET, February 27, 2023
Zelensky says situation in Bakhmut is getting more challenging for Ukraine
From CNN's Maria Kostenko in Kyiv
Ukrainian servicemen are seen near an automatic grenade launcher at their positions in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on February 25.
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters)
The situation in the eastern city of Bakhmut is "getting more and more challenging," President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday.
"The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions, to secure and defend it," Zelensky said, soon after military commanders spoke of hundreds of Russian strikes in the area.
"Our soldiers defending the Bakhmut direction are true heroes," Zelesnky said in his daily video update.
More on this: Earlier today, Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Armed Forces, told Ukrainian television: "Bakhmut remains the epicenter of the enemy's attack, where they are focusing on breaking through our defense. In particular, in the area of such settlements as Dubovo-Vasylivka, Yahidne, Ivankivske, and Pivnichne."
The named places are all to the west of Bakhmut.
Cherevatyi said: "There were 300 attacks from various types of artillery and multiple rocket launchers on this section of the frontline. 60 combat engagements took place, where the enemy lost 63 servicemen killed and 141 wounded of varying severity."