The situation around the city of Bakhmut, which has become a symbol of the struggle for control of the Donbass in eastern Ukraine, is “extremely tense”, as the Russians threw into battle the “most prepared” assault units of the Wagner mercenary group. This was stated by the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, CNN cites.

According to the Ukrainian official, “despite significant losses”, the Russians threw into the battle for Bakhmut the most prepared assault units of Wagner, who tried to break through the defense of the Ukrainian troops and surround the city.

Ukrainian forces have struggled to maintain access to Bakhmut as Russian forces have gradually advanced north and west of the city in recent weeks.

• “In the battles for Bakhmut, our soldiers are an example of endurance, courage and heroism,” added the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine in a message published on Tuesday in the Telegram channel of the Military Media Center of Ukraine.

The situation is “increasingly complicated”

By the way, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi also said on Monday evening that the situation in his troops around the city of Bakhmut is “increasingly complicated”, and the commander of the 28th mechanized brigade, Colonel Yurii Madyar, called the situation there “extremely difficult”.

• “The situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The enemy systematically destroys everything that can be used to defend our positions,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address, calling the Ukrainian soldiers participating in the battle “real heroes.”

Since the summer, Moscow troops have been trying to capture the strategically important city of Bakhmut, which has become a symbol of the struggle for control over Donbas in eastern Ukraine.

In statements made public on Russian television on Monday, Denis Pushylin, the Moscow-appointed head of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, said that all access routes to the fortress city of Bakhmut were “within range of the guns” of pro-Russian forces.

Russian troops tried to surround Bakhmut for several weeks and managed to block several important supply routes for Ukrainian troops.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, said on Saturday that his men had captured the village of Yagidne on the northern outskirts of Bakhmut.

Why it is important for Russia to take Bakhmut

Russia is trying to encircle Bakhmut, forcing Ukraine to withdraw its garrison, as it would give Moscow its first major reward in more than six months after one of the bloodiest phases of the war so far – a relentless Russian offensive that began on frozen ground. , writes Reuters.

With forces rebuilt with the help of hundreds of thousands of reservists called up late last year, Russia has stepped up its attacks in several areas along the eastern front. Western countries say that many of Russia’s attacks have failed at great cost.

But Moscow forces have also made clear, albeit slowly, an advance north and south of Bakhmut, trying to cut off Ukrainian forces inside the ruined city, once home to some 75,000 people.

“Fierce battles are going on there. The command is doing everything possible to prevent the enemy from advancing on our territory,” Serhiy Cherevaty, the spokesman of the Eastern Military Command, told Ukrainian television, describing the situation around Bakhmut.

For its part, Moscow said it destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot near Bakhmut and shot down American-made missiles and Ukrainian drones.

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