Since August, Russian and Ukrainian forces have been involved in a brutal tug of war over that city. Bakhmut is of very little strategic importance, but Russia badly needs a win - and Ukraine is refusing to back down. The US promised to send arms valued at $2.5 billion to Ukraine, but they won't give them American made Abrams tanks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine desperately needs tanks to fight Russia. The US, which has provided many other weapons, is refusing.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited and fact-checked by Matt Collette, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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