Fighting has been raging for months in Bagmut, in the Donetsk region. The Russians, despite using large numbers of troops and equipment, were unable to capture the city. On Friday, a video appeared on social media in which the owner of the Wagner Group suggested that the city was surrounded by Russian forces. Prigozhin addressed his message directly to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Dear Volodymyr Zelensky, the units of “Wagner” have practically surrounded Bakhmut. You have only one way out,” Prigozhin says in the post. “If earlier we were fighting with a professional army, today we see more old people and children. Let them leave the city. The city is literally surrounded” – he added.
The situation in the Bagmut region has been very tense for several days, and the Ukrainian ground forces commander said the Russians have intensified their efforts to encircle the city. Reuters reported in late February.
“Despite significant losses, the enemy launched the best-prepared offensive units of the Wagner group, which are trying to break through the defenses of our troops and encircle the city,” said Ukrainian general Oleksandr Chirsky, quoted by Reuters. Earlier, Ukrainians reported that Russia had intensified its operations in the vicinity of the city.
Putin’s army is trying to cut off the supply lines to Pakmut’s defenders, and the Russians are flooding the city (or its ruins) with artillery fire. “Everyone is talking about Russian losses in Pakmut. I agree that they suffer a great loss. But now the Russians have adopted a different tactic, they no longer attack “live”. First they grind the ground with cannons, then they attack. The losses of the Ukrainians were enormous – General Waldemar Skripsak says in an interview with Onet.