Russia admitted for the first time on Friday that it was losing ground around Bakhmut. The Russian troops retreat north of the city. Ukraine also claims to break through Russian lines south of the city.
Ukraine has been engaged in a counterattack since Tuesday at Bakhmut, which has been the fiercest battleground in the war for months. Moscow previously denied that troops were being pushed back by the Ukrainian attacks.
Ontvang meldingen bij belangrijk nieuws over de oorlog in Oekraïne
The Russian Defense Ministry says Ukraine is fighting north of the city with more than 1,000 troops and at least 40 tanks. It confirms that Russian troops are “withdrawing to strategic locations”.
According to Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the withdrawal of Russian troops north of Bakhmut is “panic and disorderly”. The mercenary boss says the main road leading to Bakhmut from the west is now back in the hands of Ukraine.
Ukraine would also advance in a major offensive in the south
The Ukrainian armed forces claim on Telegram also to break through the Russian lines south of Bakhmut. The village of Ivanivske is said to have already been liberated there.
Both sides thus confirm that Ukraine is engaged in the largest counter-attack in months. Ukraine does not yet want to speak of the long-awaited spring offensive.
The Ukrainian forces may want to surround Bakhmut and then try to retake the city completely. According to a spokesman for the eastern troops of Ukraine, there will be an area in three days recaptured which the Russians “had to fight for weeks”.
2023-05-12 21:49:00
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