President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky stressed tonight that his country’s armed forces are fighting a “painful and difficult” battle against Russian troops in their region Donbasswhere the city of Bahamut is located, around which fierce battles have been going on for several months.

“I especially want to pay tribute to the courage, strength and resilience of the soldiers fighting in the Donbass.“, – Zelensky said in his daily address, adding that this fight is “one of the most difficult”.

Although its strategic importance is disputed by experts, Bakhmut has become a symbol of the war for control of the industrial region of Donbass, a basin made up of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. OUR Russia proceeded to attach it, although he does not fully control it.

Zelensky also thanked the Ukrainian military, who “repelled attacks, destroyed the invaders, weakened the positions and logistics of the enemy, defended our borders and cities.”

“I thank the entire army, the border guards who protect our state around Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Avdiivka, Shiversk, Svatovo, Liman and Zaporozhye,” he added.

This was announced in its daily report by the General Staff of the Army of Ukraine. repulsed “more than 130 enemy attacks” in the last 24 hours, in many sectors of the front – mainly in Kupyansk, Liman, Bakhmut and Abdievka. “The enemy continues to try to encircle the city of Bakhmut,” he added, without going into details.

Pro-Russian separatist forces in Donetsk have released a video purporting to show fighters from the Wagner mercenary group in the northern suburbs of Bakhmut and claim they have taken over Stupki, a small train station in the north of the city. Wagner said on Friday that she has “virtually surrounded” the city.

Source: APE-MPE-AFP.