Major General Bruno Hofbauer of the Armed Forces of Austria believes that the city of Bakhmut will not fall in the near future. 

"It looks like Ukraine will be able to hold Bakhmut for the next couple of days and weeks," Hofbauer said on air with the ntv channel.

Even if Ukrainians withdraw from the city, Hofbauer does not expect a full-scale Russian offensive in the area.

"If Bakhmut falls, I assume that, as during the last couple of months, we will probably not have Russian troops deep behind the contact line that have enough training, equipment, and forces in order to carry out a full-scale offensive here."

UK Intelligence reported on 4 March that the Ukrainian defence of Bakhmut was under increasing pressure and that intense fighting was taking place in the city and its vicinity.