The Ukrainian military has not made the decision to withdraw from the battered city of Bakhmut, a military spokesman told CNN Wednesday.

“If we see that the threat to our personnel and our operational situation is greater than the need to hold the territory, we do it (withdraw troops), but we do it in an organized manner, without panic,” said Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.“Only the command sees the extent to which there is such a need in this situation. And then the relevant decision is made at a meeting of the Staff," he added.

“I can say that there is no such decision now.”

Some context: Russian forces are pounding Bakhmut, but the fiercely contested eastern city is not surrounded, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday.

Several thousand civilians are still believed to be in the city, which is mostly cut off from humanitarian relief.