Ukraine facing Easter fall of Bakhmut

By Stefan J. Bos

Ukraine's military admitted facing enormous difficulties this Good Friday, with Russia concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut.

Among the Ukrainian soldiers there trying to stay alive is Roman Trokhymets. 

He has lived through the fighting in the trenches, similar to those of previous World Wars. "I am on the frontline position near Bakhmut getting ready to get rid of the invaders with these guns," he said in a video message. "There is this big machine gun and my babe, my sniper rifle," he added as fighting happened nearby. "So we continue our fighting for freedom. And I will continue."    

Yet, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not rule out that soldiers like Roman Trokhymets would be withdrawn if they risk being cut off by invading Russian troops. "For me, the most important [thing] is not to lose our soldiers," he told reporters. 

"And of course, if there is a moment of even harder events, and the danger we could lose our personnel because of encirclement, of course, the corresponding correct decisions will be taken by generals there," Zekensky stressed.    

Ukraine's Eastern Military Command said that Moscow had tactical success in some places but was paying a high price for it, referring those the many killed and injured troops.

Britain's Defence Ministry said Russian forces have "highly likely advanced into the [Bakhmut] town center and has seized the West Bank of the Bakhmutka River. It warned that Ukraine's key supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened."

Yet as clashes continued, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov made clear that Moscow wants peace talks on ending the armed conflict in Ukraine not only if they focus on creating a "new world order." 

Speaking in Turkey, Lavrov did not rule out a face-to-face meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations headquarters in New York if there was "a serious proposal."

Russia has said it was leading a struggle against U.S. dominance worldwide and argued the Ukraine offensive is part of that fight. 

The proposed peace talks come as the U.S. military is investigating a possible security breach after details about plans from the United States and the NATO military alliance to help Ukraine with a spring offensive against Russia were leaked on social media.