Moscow has not commented on reports that the 72nd Separate Brigade has abandoned its positions in the southwestern outskirts of the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, which is a major target of the offensive launched by Moscow in winter, and the scene of the bloodiest terrain. battles in Europe since World War II.
What happened with the Russian 77th Brigade?
The Russian brigade usually consists of several thousand forces. Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, which has repeatedly accused the armed forces in Moscow of not providing adequate support to its militants in Bakhmut, said on Tuesday that “the Russian brigade has abandoned its positions”. Prigozhin added: “Our army is fleeing. The 72nd Brigade retreated 3 square kilometers this morning and I lost about 500 men.” Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Attack Brigade said in a statement last night: “Officially, Prigozhin’s report of the breakout of the Russian 72nd Separate Brigade from near Pakhmut leaving 500 Russian corpses is true.” “The 3rd Assault Brigade is grateful for the publicity about our success at the front,” according to the Ukrainian Brigade.
Ukrainian achievements
The Ukrainian unit was formed last year from the “Azov Battalion”, and on Wednesday morning reposted a video clip of one of its founders, Andrei Biletsky, in which he said his forces “defeated” the Russian brigade.
“In fact, we almost completely destroyed the sixth and seventh companies of this brigade, as well as brigade intelligence and a large number of combat vehicles, and we captured a large number of soldiers,” Biletsky said.
The Ukrainian military added: “We carried out the attacks in an area of 3 kilometers and a depth of 2.6 kilometers, and we completely liberated this area from the Russian occupation forces.”
The military command in eastern Ukraine said it had “caused serious damage to the Russian brigade”, despite its statements that Russia was “still trying with all its might to control the rest of Bakhmut”.
But a spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east of the country, Serhiy Chervaty, said: “Unfortunately, they haven’t destroyed the whole (Russian) brigade yet, and two divisions were badly damaged there.”
Chervati added: “The situation (in Bakhmut) is still difficult for the enemy, despite all the noise Prigozhin tries to make. It is (Bakhmut) still the main direction of attack and the main desired target.”
It should be noted that Prigozhin has repeatedly threatened since last week to withdraw Wagner Group forces from Bakhmut unless the Russian military sends more ammunition, and he said in his recent statements on Wednesday, that his forces only received 10% of the shells they need.
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