Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Wednesday that every part of his country captured by Russian military forces will be returned as on the eastern front, his forces have reportedly made territorial gains in Bakhmut, where fighting has been ongoing since the summer of 2022.
“We will not leave the enemy a single centimeter of our homeland, tyranny will not reign anywhere,” the head of the Ukrainian state said in his evening speech. “We must return freedom, security and Europe to all Ukrainian land“.
Hours earlier, Ukrainian troops had said they had pushed back Russian units up to 2 kilometers in front of Bakhmut, a city with a pre-war population of 70,000 that had been almost completely destroyed.
“We are conducting effective counterattacks there,” Alexander Syrsky, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, assured on Telegram.
He explained that units of the Russian mercenary company Wagner in Bakhmut had been replaced in some areas by units of the regular army. These less trained units were defeated, he added, adding that “the battle for Bahamut continues.”
The founder of the Azov Order, Andrey Biletsky, said on Telegram that the reclaimed territory had been completely cleared of Russian troops, at least two Russian “brigades” had been defeated and taken prisoner.
Prigogine
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is reportedly at odds with senior Russian military officials, expressed concern that his men would be surrounded during the fighting near Bakhmut, again complaining that the ammunition promised to him by headquarters had not arrived.
“Given the lack of ammunition, the “meat machine” is now threatening to turn in the opposite direction,” Prigozhin warned on Telegram on Wednesday.
Due to the high number of casualties, he continued, Wagner needed flank support from regular army units – they themselves were reportedly pushed back 2 kilometers from the Ukrainian side.
“Now there is a serious danger of Wagner’s encirclement (units) due to the collapse of the edges of the formation,” Prigogine insisted.
Source: RES-IPE
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.