The Russian Ministry of Defense on Friday sent a statement in which it claims, on the one hand, that it has repelled numerous Ukrainian attacks, including near Bakhmut, and on the other hand, it claims to have retreated several kilometers to “more favorable places.” positions” near this city, where fierce battles have been going on for several months.

Ukrainian military near BakhmutPhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

The Russian ministry said in a statement that Ukraine had deployed more than 1,000 soldiers and up to 40 tanks in 26 attempted attacks on the front line over 95 kilometers long.

It also said the attacks took place in the direction of the city of Soledar, northeast of Bakhmut, which is controlled by Moscow forces. “All attacks by units of the Ukrainian army were repelled. Penetration of the defense line of Russian troops was not allowed,” the ministry headed by Shoigu claimed.

However, in the same statement, Moscow said its forces had withdrawn to the front line, taking what it described as “more advantageous positions” near the Berkhiv Reservoir, northwest of Bakhmut.

“To make it clear to everyone, they retreated several kilometers,” notes Fr Twitter of Yaroslav Trofimovchief correspondent of the Wall Street Journal.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also said that Russian assault units, referring to the Wagner fighters, were continuing to fight west of Bakhmut with the support of regular army airborne troops, and claimed that Ukrainian counterattack attempts on the flanks of Bakhmut had been repulsed.

Earlier on Friday, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Malyar reported that this week Ukrainian troops advanced approximately 2 km in the Bakhmut area and during this time did not surrender any positions.

Also on Friday, Yevgeny Prigozhin sent an official letter to Shoigu, in which he informs that “on the flanks of the “Wagner” PMC, where units of the Russian Armed Forces are stationed, the enemy launched a series of successful counterattacks.”

We will also remind you that in an unusual post published late in the evening from Thursday to Friday in its Telegram channel, the Ministry of Defense of Russia rejected statements about the penetration of Ukrainian troops into the area of ​​the front line in the area of ​​the city of Bakhmut in the east of the country.