Control of the city of Bakhmut, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine that has been going on for several months, is necessary for the continuation of the Russian offensive, the Russian defense minister said on Tuesday.
“This city is an important hub [das linhas] defense of Ukrainian soldiers in Donbass. Its control will make it possible to conduct new in-depth offensive operations against the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Serguei Shoigu said at a televised meeting of his ministry officials.
Since last summer, Bakhmut has been at the center of a Russian offensive that has leveled the city, but so far has not suggested it is occupied. In recent weeks, the Russians have made slight progress and now appear to be controlling access to the city from the north, south and east in a siege maneuver.
According to founder Evgueni Prigojine, the troops of the paramilitary group Wagner are at the forefront of this attack, resulting in significant casualties.
The leader of this group has also come into open conflict with the Russian military hierarchy, whom he regularly accused of failing to supply enough ammunition for his men involved in the frontline in Bakhmut.
Questioned today about Shoigu’s latest statements, Wagner’s chief declined to comment, despite insisting he had not met the minister in Bakhmut, whom he says has visited to accompany his troops.
Wagner’s chief also called for “not putting the cart before the horse and saying that we have taken Bakhmut” and when, according to his estimate, between 12,000 and 20,000 Ukrainian fighters are still defending the city.
“It will be very difficult to kill between 12,000 and 20,000 Ukrainian troops tomorrow morning. The only ‘conductors’ capable of doing this are at the army headquarters or in the [estúdio de desenhos animados soviéticos] Soyouzmultfilm,” he joked.
On the Ukrainian side, and with speculation about a military withdrawal mounting, the authorities announced today that they are not giving up on the city and are going to send reinforcements.
Ukrainians “are dying for Bakhmut in great numbers and only surrender as a last resort,” says group leader Wagner
According to Ukrainian officials, this battle makes it possible to weaken Russian lines, which will have suffered heavy casualties without guaranteeing a significant advance.and when they feel the city has no clear strategic importance.
Prigojine acknowledged today that “heavy fighting is going on day and night”, but the Ukrainians “are not fleeing”. “They have ammunition, weapons (…). They die in large numbers for Bakhmut and surrender only as a last resort. Enough to consider them cowards,” he claimed.
At the same time, Ukraine says it is preparing a counter-offensive, and when it expects the delivery of new Western weapons soon.
Bakhmut has become deeply symbolic thanks to efforts by both sides since the summer to take control of the town, which today has only 4,000 inhabitants, up from about 70,000 before the start of the Russian military intervention.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.1 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At the moment, at least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million people need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and calling Russia political and economic obligations. sanctions.
The UN presented 8,173 civilian deaths and 13,620 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
