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France 24
France 24
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François PICARD

Why Bakhmut matters: As Russia claims victory, Ukraine insists it has momentum

THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24

How many lives have been lost so far in Bakhmut? And why? Russia claims to have fully captured the eastern Donbas city while Ukraine spins it as part of the plan, with its forces elsewhere gaining ground to the north and south. 

Kyiv has long claimed the eastern Donbas city merely represented a symbolic trophy. But it also decided to duke it out. We ask why Bakhmut matters and what's next after Volodymyr Zelensky's barnstorming tours – first of European capitals, then going all the way to the G7 summit in Japan lobbying for yet more support as things gets heated back home.

And what to make of the mysterious skirmishes taking place over the border north of Kharkiv?

Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Imen Mellaz.

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