Russia claims to have Bakhmut but top Ukrainian military leaders say the battle is not over
Russia claims it has won control of Ukraine’s eastern city of Bakhmut after a grinding nine-month conflict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died KYIV, Ukraine -- Although Russia claim s it has won control of Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut, after a grinding nine-month co NFL ict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died, top Ukrainian Military leaders say the battle is not over. Ukrainian officials acknowledge they now control only a small part of Bakhmut. But, Ukraine says, their fighters' presence has played a key role in their strategy of exhausting the Russian military. And they say their current positions in the areas surrounding Bakhmut will let them strike back inside the 400-year-old city. “Despite the fact that we now control a small part of Bakhmut, the importance of its defense does not lose its relevance,” said Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of ground forces for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. “This gives us the opportunity to enter t...