Igor Konashenkov, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defence, claimed that Ukraine has initiated an assault north of Bakhmut with more than 1,000 troops and up to 40 tanks. If true, this would be the largest Ukrainian offensive since November.
Written by Chris Muhizi Minembwe Capital News 5:00pm Kampala Uganda Time.
Moscow has conceded that its men have retreated north of the eastern Ukrainian battleground city of Bakhmut, in what the commander of the Wagner private army of Russia has dubbed a “rout.”
According to Konashenkov, the Russians had fended off 26 attacks, although forces in one sector had retreated to better positions near the Berkhivka reservoir, northwest of Bakhmut.
Hanna Maliar, the deputy minister of defence, stated on Telegram on Friday that Ukrainian soldiers advanced in the area of Bakhmut.
In a recorded statement, Yevgeny Prigozhin, commander of the Wagner troops that have been in charge of the city’s operation, said: “Unfortunately, what Konashenkov described is labelled ‘a rout’ and not a regrouping.
A different video message from Prigozhin said that the Ukrainians had taken control of a high point overlooking Bakhmut and had unlocked the major road entering the city from the west.
Five square kilometres were lost just today due to the Berkhivka reservoir and the area that was given up, according to Prigozhin.”The enemy has cleared the Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut route that we had closed up totally. In addition to being able to utilise this route today, the enemy has also gained the strategic high ground under Bakhmut, according to Prigozhin, who has frequently criticised Russia’s regular military.