Jakarta –
Minister of Defense (Menhan) Russia Sergei Shoigu conducted an inspection of troops at the front in Ukraine east. The inspection was carried out as fighting was raging around the city BakhmutUkraina timur.
Reported by the news agency AFPOn Saturday (4/3/2023), the Russian Ministry of Defense said Shoigu had “checked the command post at the front line”, without specifying the exact time or place.
Russia’s Defense Ministry released a video showing Shoigu traveling in a helicopter, then talking to a soldier in front of the damaged building.
He is also seen presenting a medal to Russian soldiers.
Russia is determined to capture the town of Bakhmut as part of a broader goal to capture the entire Donetsk region. The city is now devastated by the ferocious battle that took place.
Ukrainian and Russian troops have reported heavy casualties in the struggle for control of the city, whose symbolic importance outweighs its military significance.
On Friday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner said his troops were now “practically encircling” Bakhmut. The city has seen some of the fiercest fighting in history Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video released on Telegram on Friday that now “only one more road” remains to be seized.
The 61-year-old has said in recent weeks that his fighters have captured three villages north of eastern Bakhmut – Yagidne, Berkhivka and Paraskoviivka.
Ukrainian authorities have said they will defend the “Bakhmut fortress” as long as possible, but this week officials said the situation was difficult.
(it/it)
