Ukraine cannot refuse to defend the city of Bakhmut, because its capture will help the Russians to expand the front.
Ednews reports that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this.
He said that if Russian troops capture the city, it could be a springboard for their attacks on the cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk in the Donetsk region:
"We cannot give up Bakhmut, because it will expand the front and give Russian troops, as well as members of "Wagner" a chance to seize more of our lands."