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Why sacrificing Bakhmut to Russia may help Ukraine win | Russia Ukraine update: It was a symbol of defiance - Ukraine’s dogged defence of its eastern frontline summed up daily with just two words: Bakhmut holds. But the city holds no longer. After almost a year of brutal trench warfare and street-to-street fighting, it has finally fallen into Russian hands. It was the longest and bloodiest battle of the war so far, fought over a piece of ground that holds little tactical advantage for either side. Ukraine’s critics argue the price paid to defend it was too high, and accuse President Zelensky of putting political gain ahead of military sense. But his generals have rubbished that claim, and say the battle was all part of a master-plan to bleed Russia’s best units dry before launching their long-awaited counter-offensive. Ukrainian troops are now fighting in the city’s outskirts as they attempt to wrest back control. This is the story of a city that became a fortress, a fortress that became a ruin, and a ruin th
