President Zelenskyy's statement on the situation in Bahkmut released this morning:

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12. From all accounts, this battle has been vicious, brutal

Ukraine has taken losses but the Russians have continually sent wave after wave of poorly-trained men into a virtual meat grinder. It's been difficult to discern who was winning, holding, retreating as the weeks have passed. I would not have been surprised if Zelensky and his military command had decided to retreat and give up the defense of Bakhmut. The pictures of the region are devastating.

This decision cuts through the Russian propaganda that the Wagner group and others have been spewing about victory and certain encirclement. I doubt Zelensky would sacrifice his men for a worthless cause; that's more Putin's style. Though it's been reported numerous times that Bakhmut is not strategically critical, it's obvious the Ukrainians feel confident and are stubborn and defiant enough not to give an inch as they continue a battle of attrition--killing more Russians, crippling more Russian materiel than they themselves have lost.

It astounds me that anyone would question the fierce dedication of Ukraine. I suspect the battle supplies Ukraine has requested and the Allies have promised--tanks, ammunition and arms, etc--are starting to arrive.

The anticipated, Ukrainian counteroffensive should be one for the ages. Russia's military to date has proven to be a dud. Yesterday, I read that the Russians are already fortifying and trenching Crimea. They know what's coming--Ukraine will not stop until every Russian is expelled from her borders.