“Our soldiers are advancing in some areas of the front, and the enemy is registering losses in numbers and equipment,” Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Sersky said on social media.
The novel The Forces of Wagner
Wagner forces founder Yevgeny Prigogin said on Saturday less than two kilometers separated his forces from full control of Bakhmut, as it was reported that his forces had retreated to the northern areas of Bakhmut after a new Ukrainian attack.
He added: Wagner’s forces advanced 400 meters and the controlled area reached 132,000 square meters, and that his forces continued to advance into the town of Bakhmut, noting that less than 2 square kilometers remained of the city under control. Ukrainian forces.
The Russian defense hinted at a Ukrainian advance
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday that Ukraine had launched an offensive north of Bakhmut with more than 1,000 troops and up to 40 tanks, a level of equipment that, s was confirmed, would be the largest Ukrainian offensive since November.
Konashenkov added that the Russians repelled 26 attacks, but forces withdrew to an area to regroup in more convenient locations near the Birkhivka Reservoir, northwest of Bakhmut.
On Friday, Moscow admitted that its forces had withdrawn from their positions, which they controlled, north of the city of Bakhmut, after a new Ukrainian attack.
The Russian setback, which followed similar reports of advancing Ukrainian forces south of the city, indicates a concerted campaign by Kiev to surround Russian forces in Bakhmut.
This means both sides are now talking big wins for Ukraine, although Kiev has revealed few details and downplayed reports that a large-scale, long-planned counter-offensive has officially begun.
Russian warning
Crimean Parliament Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said on Saturday that the counterattack on the Sea of Azov coast announced by Kiev would be one of the greatest Western adventures and would lead to a colossal tragedy for Ukraine.
“This will be one of the greatest adventures that the West has undertaken in the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, which will undoubtedly lead to the death of a large number of Ukrainian soldiers, that is to say to a colossal tragedy,” Konstantinov said in a statement. interview with the “Novosti” agency.
He added: “The purpose of this massacre is simple. If they succeed, they will move forward and there will be good news. If they don’t succeed, they will be killed. It is also a good thing. someone to ask for help.”
Has the counterattack begun?
Amid this Ukrainian advance, there have been many analyzes that this could be seen as a sign of the start of the counterattack that Kiev has always hinted at.
Note that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Thursday that his army needed more time to prepare for a counterattack aimed at repelling Russian forces.
He added: “It is unacceptable to launch the attack now as many lives will be lost.”
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