Russia’s missiles again target Kherson
Sunday – 19 Shaaban 1444 AH – 12 March 2023 AD Issue Number [16175]
Kiev – Moscow – London: «Asharq Al-Awsat»
Despite the continuous Russian siege and bombardment since last August of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and the weakness of supply lines, Kiev forces still control the western part of the city. Western intelligence reports said yesterday (Saturday) that the eastern part of the city is now largely under the control of the Russian mercenary group, Wagner.
“With Ukrainian units able to fire from fortified buildings to the west, this place has become a killing zone, potentially posing a severe challenge for Wagner’s forces trying to continue their offensive to the west,” the MoD report said. The report stated that Ukrainian forces had destroyed the main bridges over the Pakhmutka River, which runs across a strip of open land and flows through the city centre, now becoming the new front line between the two sides.
Wagner’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces were close to the center of Bakhmut. In the video he posted, Prigozhin can be seen standing on the roof of a tall building in a place said to be Bakhmut. “This is the building of the city administration, this is the city center,” Prigozhin said in the video, pointing to a building at a distance from where he was standing, noting that the most important thing now is to “receive ammunition” and “continue to advance.”
Meanwhile, Russia again targeted Kherson, which was recovered by Ukrainian forces. The area is currently under constant bombardment from the Russian forces stationed on the other side of the Dnipro River. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, expressed his regret via Telegram, saying: “Russian terrorists are bombing Kherson again. There are wounded and dead.”
The Russians control the east of Bakhmut, and the Ukrainians control the west of it