The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhindescribed the situation in Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, as “very difficult”, and assured that Ukraine is fighting “for every meter”.
“In Bakhmut the situation is very difficult, the adversary fights for every meter and the closer we get to the city center, the tougher the battles.”, Prigozhin said, quoted by his press service.
According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are increasingly sending “more reserves” to the town, which the Russians have been seeking to capture since last summer.
At one time, Prigozhin assured that Wagner’s units “are advancing” in the citywhich both sides consider important for the future of the great battle for Donbas.
“We’re making progress and we’re going to keep making progress,” Wagner’s boss said.
Wagner received ammunition
He added that Wagner, Russia’s main assault force in Donetsk, has finally received part of the ammunition claimed.
“Guys from the Ministry of Defense, they come from Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and even Avdiivka, where there is fierce fighting, with ammunition for us,” he said.
This weekend the group of mercenaries received 27 trucks loaded with ammunition.
“I think we will continue to receive them”, he opined and ruled out that there is a conflict between Wagner and the army, despite previous criticism of the Russian military leadership for lack of aid to the paramilitary group.
Over the weekend, fighters from the paramilitary group reportedly occupied favorable positions in the industrial area of the Bakhmut AZOM metallurgical plant, according to Andrei Marochko, a representative of the Russian-imposed authorities in Lugansk.
According to Márochko, these positions allow the Russian troops “to control the movements of the enemy, in addition to creating a good beachhead for the future advance of our forces.”
Ukraine reports attacks
The Ukrainian army reported on Monday that they are fighting “fierce fighting” for control of the center of Bakhmut.
“Wagner’s assault units attack from various directions” to “advance towards the central neighborhoods,” the Ukrainian army said at a briefing. “Our defenders are inflicting significant losses on the enemy in fierce fighting”, he added.
The city of Bakhmut, which had 70,000 inhabitants before the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, has been the epicenter of fighting on the east front.
The town has become a symbol for both Ukraine and Russia, which have suffered heavy losses in this battle, although according to observers its strategic importance is limited.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com