Ukrainian army keeps control of Bakhmut despite Russian attacks, says Zelenskyy

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Ukraine’s president said that the country’s armed forces continue to have control of Bakhmut despite Russian forces’ attacks.

"We keep the city, although the occupiers are doing everything so that not a single undamaged wall remains there," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Sunday.

Zelenskyy said that "the Bakhmut direction is key," adding that Ukrainian military officials and he had a meeting to examine the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in great detail.

On the southern front of the war, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army is "gradually reducing the potential" of Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

The Ukrainian leader also called for providing more modern air defense systems in “sufficient numbers” to Ukraine.

He stressed the importance of protecting the Ukrainian border with both Russia and Belarus, saying; "We are preparing for all possible defense scenarios."

On power outages, Zelenskyy said that serious power outages occurred as a result of Russian missile attacks on energy infrastructures in Ukraine on Dec. 16.

He noted that electricity was restored for nearly 9 million power customers in Ukraine over the weekend thanks to repair works after Russian strikes.