The city of Bakhmut in Ukraine may fall to Wagner forces, but it will not have a strategic bearing on the war as a whole, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

“As we have said before, I think he shall say again today and even if Bakhmut were to fall, it would not have a strategic impact on the overall war,” Kirby said.

Kirby acknowledged the recent advances made by Wagner in Bakmut however he noted that it's still uncertain whether the city will fall. 

The remarks on the status of Bakhmut came as he responded to a question about the US encouraging Ukraine to redirect their efforts and resources elsewhere rather than exhausting them on a losing battle. 

Bakhmut has been the primary front in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine for the past months. 

Bakhmut, which is situated north of Donetsk, holds strategic significance for the course of the war. The city has long been the transportation route of food and supplies for the Ukrainian troops stationed in Donbas. 

In early February, Prigozhin, Wagner's chief announced that the town of Mykolaivka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) had been taken under control.

Earlier this week, Ukraine reported that Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones on the country, As Moscow-backed forces advanced in Bakhmut.

Read more: 'Massive' aerial Russian attacks reported by Ukraine