The commander of the Ukrainian brigade participating in the battles for Bakhmut told Reuters in an interview that Russian mercenaries from PMC Wagner have intensified artillery shelling and other military activities in recent days. According to him, it is imperceptible that they lack ammunition.
Colonel Roman Grishchenko, commander of the Ukrainian 127th Territorial Defense Brigade, dismissed recent public statements by Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC, regarding the lack of ammunition.
“They weren’t even close to having an ammunition shortage. In recent days, the intensity of shelling and (in particular) rocket artillery has increased,” Grishchenko said.
The brigade he commands has been fighting in Bakhmut for nearly two months. In his opinion, the losses of the Russian troops are several times greater than the losses of his brigade. However, he did not name the numbers. “(Russia) is losing a lot of its soldiers… Bakhmut has already accomplished its main task and continues to do so. We … cut off the enemy’s manpower,” explained the commander of the 127th brigade.
Before the war, Roman Grishchenko was a military prosecutor in Kharkiv.
Russian troops are constantly attacking Bakhmut and the Ukrainian army is fighting them, he continues. “The situation is difficult. The enemy is throwing great forces at us, constant waves of attacks,” Grishchenko says.
The interview with him was recorded late Wednesday evening. After that, the positions of his brigade were attacked.
This brigade was formed in March 2022 as a territorial defense unit. Only 30% of the brigade’s personnel had combat experience at this time.
“They (the Russian forces) are not retreating on their own. This is a large and difficult task, and they are difficult to eliminate. Every meter, ten meters, a section of trench, every building is given with great effort, ”explains the commander.
According to him, news “soon” will come from Bakhmut. But he does not want to talk about it in more detail. “I ask everyone to have a little patience and you will see everything yourself,” says Roman Grishchenko.
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