Russians intensify shelling of Bakhmut, employing heavy weaponry - Ground Forces Commander

In Bakhmut, the Russians have increased the intensity of strikes involving heavy weapons as they still hope to capture the town by May 9.

That’s according to the Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reports Ukrinform.

"Bakhmut. Our tough defensive operation continues. The Russians have increased the intensity of shelling employing heavy weapons, started using more advanced equipment, and are regrouping their troops," Syrskyi said.

In his opinion, this shows that the enemy forces are not going to change their plans and are doing everything possible to take Bakhmut so they continue their offensive.

He emphasized that, as of today, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have managed to disrupt enemy plans as regards Bakhmut but the Russians harbor hope to seize the fortress town by May 9 when Russia annually marks WW2 Victory Day. Therefore, the task of Ukraine’s Defense Forces is to prevent this from happening, Syrskyi stressed.

Also, the Ground Forces commander said he visited soldiers in the combat zone and met with commanders on the ground.

"Today it is important to make decisions as quickly as possible and predict the enemy’s actions. Live communication with commanders allows for seeing the situation in detail and planning future moves," he emphasized.

During the visit, Syrskyi awarded nearly 170 soldiers deployed on the eastern front.

"The main strength of any army is people who are mentally confident in themselves and their victory. Our Army relies on precisely such people. Together, we will win," added commander.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Russian army shelled 11 settlements across Donetsk region over the past day, employing S-300s, Grads, and barrel artillery.