Polish general: Defence of Bakhmut useful for Ukraine, but nothing to happen after its loss

Polish general, former head of the National Security Bureau Stanisław Koziej has said that if Ukraine loses Bakhmut, nothing will happen.

“However, the defeat of the Russians in Bakhmut would be a disaster for the Russian Federation,” he told Polsat.

Koziej said that he trusts the decision of the Ukrainian command.

“The battle for Bakhmut is interpreted differently by the Russian and the Ukrainian sides. The Ukrainians treat Bakhmut as a place where they can inflict huge losses on the Russians. As long as they can inflict these losses, while the Russians are attacking Bakhmut and the Ukrainians are defending themselves and can resist the Russian attacks, then from a military point of view it makes sense to defend Bakhmut,” the general said.

“Ukraine does not look at Bakhmut from a political, propagandistic and even strategic perspective, because this place does not have any huge strategic importance. If it loses Bakhmut, Ukraine will be open to the further Russian invasion,” he said.

Koziej noted that however, the Russians look at Bakhmut more from a political and propaganda point of view.

“This is a certain symbol for Russia that has been promoted for a long time. If the Russians fail to capture it, it will be a disaster for them, a defeat. On the other hand, if Russia captures it, it will be able to boast that it has seized an important area, it is winning,” the general said.

He added that the recent decision of the Ukrainian command and the president to continue defending is understandable.

Koziej added that the Russians will suffer big losses in Bakhmut.

“These are fights in the city, in urbanised areas, which are always more favourable for those who defend themselves. Those who defend themselves can always hide in these buildings and can use the infrastructure, having such "natural armour" in this city. The attacker must go out, move forward and expose himself,” he added.