Ukraine: Pro-Russian separatists claim to have captured village near Bakhmut

by

The community of Bakhmutske, in the Donetsk region, was “liberated by the Russian armed forces”, separatists said in this region, which Moscow has announced its annexation

The pro-Russian separatists of his region Donetsk, in eastern Ukraineclaimed on Monday that they had taken control of a village near the town of Bakhmut, the current focus of the fighting, which Moscow has been seeking to capture for several months.

The community of Bakhmutske, in the Donetsk region, has been “liberated by the Russian armed forces”, said the separatists of this region, which Moscow has announced its annexation.

AFP is unable to independently confirm these claims.

In a statement released on social media, the Wagner mercenary group, led by a businessman close to the Kremlin, said the village had already been “liberated” by his men last month.

Bahmutske is located northeast of Bahmut, a town previously known for its vineyards and salt mines and had a population of around 70,000 before the Russian offensive began last February.

Russian forces, mainly mercenaries of the Wagner group, have been trying to capture Bahmut for months but are facing strong Ukrainian resistance. The two camps are engaged in a fierce exchange of artillery fire that has reduced part of the city to rubble.

Bahmutske is right next to the city of Solentar, which is also the scene of fierce fighting.

In another statement, the head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the attack in Solentar was carried out “exclusively” by members of his organization.

These statements show the growing rivalry, according to many analysts, between the Russian Ministry of Defense on the one hand and the Wagner Group on the other.

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his speech last Sunday night he said that the zone between Bahamut and Soledar is “one of the bloodiest places in the war”.

Russia announced in September the annexation of the Donetsk region, as well as three other Ukrainian regions, following referendums that were not recognized by either Kyiv or the international community.

RES-EMP

You May Also Like

Recommended for you