Top military commanders of Ukraine have vowed to keep defending the besieged city of Bakhmut, and will strengthen their defences, where Russia is hoping to make its first major wartime gain after more than half a year, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reported news agency Reuters.
Meanwhile for Moscow, capturing the city would mean a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region amidst some of the bloodiest fighting of the more than one-year long invasion.
The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces late on Monday reported that the city and surrounding areas were under "constant attacks" as "the enemy takes no account of losses."
In an apparent preparation for a possible retreat, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut after Russian gains in recent weeks, at the culmination of a winter offensive.
However, late on Monday, Zelenskyy said that at a meeting of top military officials he had asked the commander of the regional grouping and Ukraine's commander in chief how they proposed to proceed.
"Both generals responded not to withdraw but to strengthen (our defences)," he said in his nightly address.
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"I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut."
As per the report, the intense battle which has stretched for more than a year has depleted the artillery reserves of both the sides with thousands of shells fired daily along the eastern and southern fronts. Kyiv's European allies are working on a deal to procure more ammunition for the fight.
The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force, which is leading the Bakhmut siege said on Monday he needed the regular army to supply him with more ammunition, reinforcements and covering support if he was to win the battle.