“Russia Claims Control of Bakhmut in Ukraine, Ending Longest Fighting in 15 Months”

Jakarta –

Russia claims it has completely captured the town of Bakhmut in Ukraine Destroyed East. This will mark the end of the longest and bloodiest fighting in 15 months.

Reported Reuters, the attack on Bachmut City was carried out mainly by the troops of the Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. The seizure of the city was claimed to have been controlled on Saturday (20/5/2023) yesterday.

“As a result of offensive actions by the Wagner strike units, supported by the artillery and aviation of Army Group South, the liberation of Artyomovsk has been completed,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Kyiv denied Prigozhin’s claims. The claim comes after a week in which Ukrainian forces made the quickest gains for six months on the northern and southern flanks of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin himself had said that his own troops would withdraw from Bakhmut in five days to rest. Then, handed over the ruins to the regular military.

“Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken. We completely captured the whole city, from house to house,” Prigozhin said in a video in which he appears in combat uniform in front of lines of fighters holding Russian flags and banners. Wagner.

Later, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the troops that took the city. Putin said they would be rewarded, according to a report by Russia’s domestic news agency.

Watch the video: Kyiv is bombarded by Russian airstrikes

(azh/knv)