Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that operations to defend the war-torn eastern city of Bakhmut will continue and that he has the support of senior generals.
Western analysts suggested over the weekend that Ukraine was likely to withdraw some of its troops, as Russian forces approached the city.
Moscow has been trying to take over Bakhmut for months, as both sides have suffered heavy losses in a grinding war of withdrawal.
A local official says that fighting has taken place on the streets in recent days.
But Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Marchenko said over the weekend that Russia had not yet taken control of the city.
Meanwhile, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private army involved in the Russian campaign, has complained of a shortage of ammunition amid apparent friction between his fighters and regular Russian forces.
They also say that their representative was barred from Russian military headquarters.
Analysts say Bakhmut has little strategic value but has become a focal point for Russian commanders who have struggled to get any positive news to the Kremlin.
The capture of the city would bring Russia a little closer to its goal of controlling the entire region of Donetsk, one of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine that it largely ceded to Russia after a referendum last September. After being denounced as Dahi, it was annexed.
Mr Zielinski said in his evening address that he had discussed Bakhmut with senior generals.
“[They responded] not to retreat, but to strengthen [our defenses],” he said.
“The command unanimously supported this position. There was no other position. I asked the commander in chief to find an adequate force to support our boys at Bakhmut.”
The comments followed a report by JEE News, citing Ukrainian official sources, as saying that Valery Zlozny, the commander of the armed forces, had retreated from the city several weeks ago after disagreeing with Mr. Zelensky about the operation. Removal was recommended.
JEE News added that most of the defenders shared the views of General Zaluzhny.
And over the weekend the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukrainian troops were likely to make “limited combat withdrawals” while the Russians “continue to inflict heavy casualties”.
Ground forces commander Oleksandr Serskyi, quoted by JEE News on a tour of the front line on Sunday, said fighting in Bakhmut had reached “the highest level of tension”.
“The enemy is putting additional Wagner forces into battle,” he said. “Our troops are valiantly defending their positions north of Bakhmut, and are trying to prevent the encirclement of the city.”
