Ukrainian Armed Forces have no order to withdraw from Bakhmut, heavy fighting continues – Ukrainian soldier Sazonov

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"We have part of the group on rotation, part of the group in Bakhmut. The enemy has not captured or surrounded Bakhmut, we are still fighting. The command sent one unit to another task, to another area, and the Russian forces are instilling panic that Ukrainians are leaving Bakhmut. There is no order from the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw, and heavy fighting is going on," Sazonov emphasized.

According to him, the Russian troops are trying to break through to Bakhmut from the north and south.

"The enemy is coming through the private sector. We have been catching subversive groups for several months. The Russian forces are sending not only mobilized troops or prisoners here, but also trained Russian units. They come not in the first but in the second wave. Syrskyi (commander of the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces - ed.) came yesterday, and we discussed the situation. Hanna Maliar says they will move reserves to Bakhmut," Sazonov added.

• National Security and Defense Council Secretary Danilov said that the situation in Bakhmut is extremely difficult, but under control.

• Military experts are convinced that Bakhmut has fulfilled its tasks and Ukrainian soldier can withdraw. And the Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian forces are probably preparing for a controlled withdrawal of troops from some areas of Bakhmut.

• Viktor Khorenko, the commander of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, visited Bakhmut to inspect the work of his units, reporting that the tasks were being clearly fulfilled.