Kiev officially announced on Friday that it had recaptured territory in Bahamut. Ukrainian forces this week advanced about two kilometers around the city, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, and have not abandoned their positions there, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hana Maliar assured on Friday.

“The enemy suffered significant casualties. Our defense forces advanced two kilometers near Bahamut,” Maliar said in a social media post.

She called on Ukrainians to ignore the Russian disinformation, as she described it, about the situation around Bakhmut.

“How does the enemy cover the fighting in Bahamut? He congratulates himself, talks about supposed victories and invents stories about our military command,” noted the Ukrainian minister.

“At the same time, the enemy gives false information about the lack of weapons, which probably aim to justify the real situation’ he added.

At the same time, Russian military bloggers reported yesterday Thursday that Ukrainian troops managed to break the front line in some places. Moscow denied this information, and emphasized that the situation in the city is under control.

“Statements broadcast by individual Telegram accounts of alleged ‘defence breaches’ at various points in the line of contact do not correspond to reality” replied the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Prigozhin denied… Moscow

However, Wagner’s “boss” Yevgeny Prigozhin denied Moscow. He published a letter to Defense Minister Shoigu, inviting him to visit Bahmut. The letter states that on the sides, which were defended by the Russian army, and not the paramilitary organization, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out a series of successful counterattacks.

“Considering the complicated operational situation and also your many years of combat experience, I request that you come to Bahamut’s territory, and assess the situation for yourself. I thank you in advance, I count on your agreement” concludes Prigozhin.

Prigozhin’s paramilitary organization leading the attack on Bakhmut had recently complained of ammunition shortages and threatened to abandon its positions in the city unless it received additional support from Moscow.

The battle for Bakhmut, a devastated city with 80% of it controlled by Russian forces, is the longest and bloodiest since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.