Russian Prigogine says that Wagner controls the eastern part of Bachmuth | – #Russian #Prigogine #Wagner #controls #eastern #part #Bachmuth
March 8 (Reuters) – Russia’s “Wagner” group of Ukraine It has taken full control of the eastern part of the city of Bakhmut, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Wednesday.
Reuters could not independently confirm the story, but if it is true Russia means that his forces control almost half of the city.
“Wagner” private military units of his company have taken control of the eastern part of Bakhmut,” Prigozhin said in a voice recording on the Telegram messaging platform of the press service.
“Everything east of the Bakhmutka River is completely under Wagner’s control.
Reuters could not independently verify the report. Last Friday, Prigozhin said his forces had virtually surrounded the city, although the mercenary boss had made premature claims of territorial gains in the past.
Prigogine’s forces led the attack on the city, but he Russia Ministry of Defence of the ammunition that his men needed by repeatedly clashing with hungry complained about the stay.
Latest UpdatesEuropean categoryGeorgians to the new law protest as a stone to the police and gasoline they dropped the bomb video Article by VideoEuropeCategoryGreece workers march over deadly train crash, call protests, picture article
See 2 more stories
Prigozhin in a separate video he posted on his Telegram channel later on Wednesday Ukraine called on President Vladimir Zelensky to “take the elderly and children out of the beaten city”.
Russia forces have been trying to capture Bakhmut for months in what has become perhaps the bloodiest battle of the year-long war.
If Russian forces take the city, it will be their first significant territorial gain since last summer.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that the capture of Bakhmut of Ukraine will seriously weaken its defense and Russia from the Donbas – of Ukraine Donetsk in the east and Russia’s “free will allow to carry out further attacks on the Lugansk regions, which he is fighting for.
USA Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin played down the city’s strategic importance on Monday, saying its capture was only a symbolic victory and would not change the course of the war.
Zelensky He said that Ukraine will continue to fight for Bakhmut against the backdrop of talks about Ukraine’s possible withdrawal. Prigozhin said on Tuesday that he had seen no signs of Ukraine withdrawing its forces from the city.
Reporting by Lydia Kelly and Jake Cordell; Edited by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Mark Trevelyan
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-03-08 13:06:26
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”